More than 40 years ago, Nick Bollettieri gathered up the young juniors he’d been coaching at the Colony Beach and Tennis Club and relocated them to a patch of farmland in Bradenton, where he established the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Over time, the facility would become famous as the launching pad for a host of world-ranked professional tennis players, among them Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier.
Given the Academy’s reputation for producing superstars, it inevitably attracts those who dream of becoming one of them, and in the past the Academy did little to discourage those dreams. It was disparaged as a “factory” that processed huge amounts of raw material looking for the gold of incredible talent. But today, it encourages more reasonable goals. “The Academy used to be about going pro,” says the current tennis director Jimmy Arias, himself an early pupil of Bollettieri’s. “Now it’s about doing at least a few years of college. The main thing is you’re competing against yourself, not against other people.”
The parents who delivered their children into the Bollettieri staff’s hand, eventually spawned a program designed for them. It attracts mainly 3.0-4.0 singles and doubles players looking to improve their strokes, develop some consistency by hitting hundreds of balls, get a good workout, and have fun while doing it. Led by a cheerleading Roger Blackburn—his often repeated mantra is ‘Fired Up’—the five-hour-a-day program is intensive but not exhausting. Blackburn and his solid staff complement their enthusiasm with demonstrations of how to hit the various strokes and personal attention to the issues each of us had. “We want to give you simple tips, one for each stroke,” Blackburn said of their approach. Nowhere is that more evident than in the daily video sessions, shot with Blackburn’s phone on a tripod and larded with appropriate advice. On my last visit, for example, he had four of us each hit more than half a dozen forehands and backhands giving each of us an appropriate—and easily remembered—tip for making it better. “Catch it with your left hand,” he repeated each time I hit a forehand. “Throw your Frisbee” on my backhand. Later in the day, that video showed up on a CoachNow app we’d been asked to download so we could review those tips at home as useful reminders of Blackburn’s advice.
All of this takes place at what is now IMG Academy, a sprawling, 500-acre campus that claims to be the world’s largest sports complex. That scarcely seems like an idle boast, for within its grounds are training facilities for golf, baseball, basketball, soccer, football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, and track and field. Like the tennis, these other disciplines attract both aspiring amateurs and professionals with both short term and year-round programs and the option to stay and live on campus. As impressive as all of this is, what appealed to me most as an adult tennis player was the option to stay on campus at The Legacy hotel. Built at a cost of $28 million, the 160-room lodge near the entrance to the sports complex has a restaurant and bar, swimming pool, fitness center, and spa. Bedding down there affords an opportunity to get together with your fellow campers off court, something that had not been easily possible before the hotel’s construction. The rooms are very comfortable, outfitted with a queensize bed, desk, two-person convertible sofa, a Keurig coffee maker, and walk-in shower. The menu at the restaurant, which is just off the lobby, runs to pasta, fish, steak, salads, sandwiches, tacos. There is one communal table framed by tables for two, four, or six and a six-stool bar that serves beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. The hotel and all its amenities round out the camp by adding a social dimension—and a very relaxed one. The tennis has always been good, but now a stay at the IMG Academy feels less like a boot camp and more like a vacation—at least as long as hitting tennis balls for five hours a day is your idea of fun. It is mine.
The adult programs are run by two experienced pros, Roger Blackburn and Jonathan Osuigwe, who are assisted by as many other staff as enrollment demands. Even before you arrive, you’re encouraged to download the CoachNow app. The first communication you’re likely to receive is from the perpetually pumped up Blackburn, who sets the tone for the week with an enthusiastic “Fired Up. Awesome!” soon followed by a welcome to the program and information about when and where to meet.
Court Complex: There are 55 courts at the Academy (33 hard, 18 clay, and 4 indoor).
Court fees: None
Caveat: Don’t underestimate the demands of a full-day program. Anything and everything you can do to get in shape before coming down will help. Make sure the shoes you bring are well broken in and comfortable. The coaches provide water, Gatorade, and towels to help with dehydration on the court.
Off Court
The IMG Academy Tennis Program is in fact one of nine sports offered at this 600-acre Bradenton site, allowing juniors to pursue tennis, baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, or performance training while adults can choose among tennis, golf, and performance training.
Spa & Fitness Center: The Legacy Hotel has its own fitness center as well as the Wellness Spa, which offers massages as well as specialized services.
Dining: The Icon Eatery & Bar in the hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and caters to in-room dining while the Icon Loft adds small plates and signature cocktails from 4 pm to midnight. There are also dining options at the Campus Center and the Adult Clubhouse. The hotel’s concierge and desks in the clubhouse and Campus Center all have a long list of local restaurants, complete with driving directions, for those who prefer to dine off-campus.
Accommodations
The Legacy Hotel has 160 rooms as well as such creature comforts as a resort-style pool, Icon Eatery & Bar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a grab-and-go Provisions Bar. Transportation is available to and from the hotel to on-campus programs. Besides the hotel, the Academy has kitchen-equipped villas ranging in size up to three bedrooms. In addition to options on campus, you have a broad choice of places to bed down locally, including several near the Sarasota-Bradenton airport.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round; however, many adults scale back to a half-day program in summer.
Travel Instructions: The nearest airport is Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ), 6 miles away.
IMG is a great place to come for tennis instruction. If you are a student of the game, you will love all the helpful tips and information they provide. If you just like to hit a lot of balls, they do that without overloading you with constant advice. If you ask for advice, they will spend as much time as needed to help you understand. In all of these ways, the program works for many different people. They are very good at paring players with similar skills. The lunch they provide is fantastic (healthy, delicious, and lots of variety). The accommodations are nice and clean. The spa is very nice. Really, there are no glaring weaknesses to their program.
RS
Incredible experience. Highly organized and very well run.
PG
After spending 3 full days at the IMG Adult Tennis Camp, I can safely say that it has been a great overall experience. Very demanding and intense, coaches Jimmy, Roger, Johnatan and Tom gave the participants (a group of 14) the motivation needed to overcome the exhausting days at IMG. Yes, they will have you working hard! And that’s what I wanted. Drills were well explained and demonstrations were long enough for good understanding. It has changed my game and my mentality towards a tennis match. I really enjoyed how they work on your offensive skills (DTL balls, Volleys, Net play). Would have appreciated a little more focus on singles matches, since I’m not a doubles player. My only regret was staying only for 3 days. After the program, I can say that IMG got me FIRED UP!!!
DR
An absolutely great experience. This is the second time I’ve been to the camp and found it even better than last year which was an awesome experience. Roger is a simply one of the most motivating coaches you’ll ever meet. He will get you “fired up”.
SS
Strengths: Good coaching staff. Very clear instruction. Good facilities. Weakness: Admin staff not very informed on programs.
MK
Strengths: Pros were dedicated and truly wanted to deliver an exceptional experience. Weaknesses: There was no focused application of specific shots taught. There was either a drill or points played on free-for-all, there was never a combination of the two – this is critical component for adult learning
MV
Well-organized, punctual, yet with an appreciation of the limitations of 40-50 year olds. Good mix of drills with match situations. Efficient and consistent conveyance of camp teaching methodology. Up to the individual as to how much intensity is involved (no problem sitting out drills if desired). Highlights include experts on psychology, nutrition and vision. Would have appreciated a bit more time spent on individual technical aspects of strokes instead of broadbrushing technique.
CC
Amazing experience. Coaches are top-notch and training for the adult camp is rigorous. This is our second time attending and we have committed to an annual trip. Over the course of the year, we focus on the points learned and come back with more to practice. The more you give to the program, the more you can accomplish.
KR
Great instruction, every coach added a little more to my game…my fit bit registered between 10-13 miles a session. If you’re willing to work hard the end result is incredible. Thanks Jimmy and Roger and the rest of the crew!
SJ
Great drills and instruction. The only recommendation I would make is that they try to incorporate more singles vs doubles when practicing game play.
PV
This experience far exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to play some tennis and pick up a few tips from teaching professionals who have never seen me play. I was very happy to find that the pros taught skills and continually reinforced the teaching throughout the program. These are the same professionals who work with world class juniors and their knowledge and skills showed. The instructors were flexible and adjusted the lessons to the needs of our group of seven women.
PR
The strengths for me were the coaches, the drills and the intensity of them. The coaches were all very personable and seemed to truly want to help us all improve our strokes and our game. All of the drills were so helpful to me. The weaknesses were on the administrative end. From the beginning it was difficult to make reservations and to get billing information. Costs for tennis and costs for accommodations. The price changed each time our person called. As of today I was billed incorrectly by $327.81 and I am waiting for a credit to my credit card. If we had not known of the great tennis experience we would have, we would have gone someplace other than this facility.
HH
I have been to the adult camp twice and am returning again next month! One of my adult children has attended the adult camp with me twice and two of my children attended the Junior program 6 times between them. Now two of my children are adults one is still in high school and all four of us are attending camp next month again! I have been active in tennis for over 35 years and continue to learn. Not only do I learn something new every time I attend, I gain knowledge necessary for coaching kids back home. The parents and my students notice the difference every time I return from camp. My enthusiasm and knowledge increases every time and that translates to better attendance, improvement and excitement at the drills I run as part of my own philanthropic mission. Thank you IMG Bollettieri Professionals! You are the best!
IR
Great facility. Very informative. Learned a lot. Staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.
DM
Do not go without your own group of players of your ability, or you will end up with players of lesser ability and you won’t enjoy the experience. The clinics didn’t teach doubles strategies, more focused on singles play. The accommodations were great, but bring,your own food or go out because the food is not good. More for the kids who live there.
FF
Strengths: The structure, the quality of trainers and the intensity. Weaknesses: I was expecting to receive more specific orientation regarding my strokes.
HM
I attend the adult program a few times a year. The instruction is excellent. Jimmy and Roger are very personable. Make no mistake, you will work hard and hit a whole lot of balls, but it is enjoyable.
JK
I didn’t stay at IMG – live nearby. Instruction was outstanding and I liked the format. Would have liked a little more discussion or execution of strategies for singles and especially doubles. Overall, a very good experience.
TS
Had a GREAT! Time. Strength was instructional staff, especially Roger, Jimmy and Jonathan. Roger’s “fired up” enthusiasm was infectious and VERY motivational. Appreciated Jimmy’s video critiques and Jonathan’s intense driving and specific, ongoing coaching tips. Main weakness is the intensity of the heat and humidity which can lead to exhaustion but staff is aware and pushes hydration and is supportive of individually required rest breaks.
CD
I have wanted to attend the IMG Bolletieri Academy for many years. I finally made it there this summer, and it exceeded every expectation that I had! IMG is a world-class training facility which any serious tennis player will love. The coaches are excellent! They challenged me and they made the experience fun. Thank you Jimmy, Jonathan and especially Roger for making me feel at home and pushing me so hard! Fire it up! The clay was beautiful, the Gatorade was cold, and the warm up was well organized and thorough. The program is professionally run and well structured. Seeing myself on video was extremely helpful as well. I made improvements in my game and the conditioning work I did at home really paid off! I was able to meet Nick, who was kind enough to invite my friend and I in to watch part of a lesson. Afterwards, he took the time to meet us and pose for pictures. He was so nice, full of energy, and very inspiring! If you enroll in the full day camp, be sure to bring a second outfit, you will need it! The program will definitely challenge your stamina – make sure you are in shape before you come. The food was great. All healthy and light options which were perfect to fuel us up for the afternoon. Everyone I encountered on campus was helpful and professional. The Sarasota area is wonderful, you will be close enough to several beaches to enjoy them fully after tennis. Don’t miss Lido Beach and Siesta Key, the views are breathtaking and the sunsets are stunning. An unbelievable experience! I cannot wait to go back!
JS
Very good resort. Very good instructor. Time on the court was great. Accommodations were ok. They need a renovation. Food was good.
JS
Great experience. Loved the coaches and the training. Will be booking another trip to Bollettieri!
SM
Great camp! Instructors were very skilled and highly motivating.
KK
IMG is an intensive 3-5 day program that is outstanding. The coaching is first rate, great instructors and very positive motivators. But this is a serious camp for players that want to improve; you will run hard and push your body to perform at a high level. Every day has a different focus and you will leave the camp a better player. Been to several other tennis camps, IMG is substantially better, I highly recommend.
JF
Amazing energy and motivation from Roger. He’s such a huge reason we return every year! They provide great instruction and opportunity for lots of repitition because you get to hit a ton of balls Everyone always makes you feel very welcome there. My only “complaint” was that the video analysis was done immediately upon our arrival after driving into town. We had not hit a single ball so I didn’t feel the video ended up being as accurate of a picture of our strokes as I had hoped
DR
Coaching, time on the court, coach to player ratio
SC
The teaching staff worked hard to make sure everyone who had something they wanted to work on received some individual attention. I was very impressed with the teaching staff and how hard they worked. I had a great time and learned a lot! Thank you Roger and Jimmy!! AWESOME!
KS
I have been 4 years in a row to IMG – absolutely love it. I know I’m going to work my you-know-what off while I’m there – the instructors are going to push me but I’m going to learn a ton of new things and make a ridiculous amount of improvement. I’ve never had a bad experience here.
BS
Excellent ATP level instructors. Many futures players help with instructions to get their own coaching. Great concept. Atmosphere is all tennis with many ATP pros on campus
MM
Spent the weekned at IMG- it was fanstic! Jimmy Royalty and his team were supepreb trainers and motivators. I would go back in a second. I highly reccommend him and his team-
SK
I had high expectations for the camp and they were exceeded primarily due to the great facilities, overall infrastructure (pro shop, spa, cafeteria), and a commitment by the instructors to push you into becoming a better player. I’ve been to other tennis facilities which tend to be more about the resort than the quality of the tennis—if you are committed, you will walk out of here a better player with a better assessment of your strengths and weaknesses (both physically and mentally). The other campers had a similar mindset of working hard and trying to get better and so it made for a great experience.
FT
excellent facilities, exceptional and disciplined teaching staff. challenging in a good way – unique experience.
PM
Great place where it is possible to learn indipendendtly from the age. Lot of fun but for sure you can play tennis much better after the course. Great people. The weak part regards the administrative organization that sometimes make a little mess….
PM
The Adult Program at Bollettieri’s Tennis program is always a worthwhile experience. Hitting thousands of balls develops muscle memory which helps days down the road when you get back at home. You also get into incredible shape playing tennis for a full day. The pro’s are wonderful and really a pleasure to be around. I highly recommend this program if you want to improve your game over time.
SL
Excellent coaching for 5 hours a day.Pleased they did warm up exercises, Demonstrations were very good. The encouragement and on the ball instruction and comments were the best. Had great fun, hard work ,plenty of perspiration lots of gratification.
DP
Been for second year in a row and once again was very pleased. I am an advanced tennis player and this is the best camp available in my opinion. Very professional, hard work but also very good fun. Facilities are great and standards of teaching are the best I have experienced. Only slight improvement needed is the accommodation which is old and tired.
EB
Coaches Jimmy, Roger, and Enrique will push you hard and get the most out of you. They sincerely care about you. Arrive in shape since you will be working hard. In addition to the great coaching, drills, etc… you get to know your fellow players from all around the world. I have attended IMG on a half day basis on 3 separate occasions and it is simply the best. I highly recommend.
JJ
You are going to hit lots of balls! You will work hard and when I left, I knew my game had improved. Typically as an adult, you do not get the chance to play for several hours on multiple days to get that muscle memory of your strokes. I got out of the program what I wanted and my strokes are stronger.
SL
I participated in the 3-day adult tennis camp in March 2015. (This is just a review on the tennis camp and not the accommodations as I lodged off-campus). It was one of the best experiences, and I highly recommend the program to tennis aficionados of all ages and levels. You will get your butt kicked, but in a good way. I have been to another highly renowned tennis camp in the vicinity a couple of times before, but found IMG Bollettieri’s program to be superior – there was consistency across the coaches (thank you, Jimmy, Roger, Rachel, and Enrique), who were amazing and genuinely cared to help improve my game. They also provided a lot of personalized attention and will take into consideration what the camper is seeking to achieve/improve. Also, while this may be a matter of personal preference, I sought to focus more on improving my technique via instruction and drilling as opposed to spending a lot of time playing doubles or strategizing match plays. Separately, I also recommend booking a sports massage at the IMG Wellness Spa – because they are used to treating athletes, they know exactly what they are doing to help you recover from muscle soreness. I’m already looking forward to planning my next visit!
LS
If you are looking for a great workout, and the opportunity to hit a lot of balls, this camp is great. I am not a very consistent player, but like to play tennis when I can. I met great people from all over the world during my 5 day camp, and the staff was exceptional. Friendly, fun and professional. The food was fantastic, and the facilities amazing. It is recommended that you be physically prepared for the camp, especially if you do the 5 days. It is the best advice you will get. Be ready to work and work hard! In the end you won’t regret it! I would go again in a New York Minute! Thanks again for a great experience!
DC
IMG’s Tennis Academy is the pinnacle of tennis teaching. The instruction is unparalleled. My son was attending a week long tennis session so I decided to join him by attending the adult tennis camp. We had the privilege of taking a group lesson with the father of modern tennis Nick Bolettieri. I was skeptical about his methods, but the man fully deserves is reputation as a tennis legend. One by one he noticed everyone’s faults and offered simple changes to the correct the problem. Jimmy Royalty and Roger Blackburn of the adult tennis program provided a grueling yet insight instruction on playing tennis. During my session I improved immensely and hope to go back in the future. Juan Herrera the head of the junior camps was equally as positive and insightful. The staff provided positive critiques of the juniors. They kept them focussed and disciplined. They group the kids based on ability. They had some of the full time kids play with the stronger players. This is without a doubt the premier place for junior tennis in America and possibly the world. The accommodations are three and half star. You can always stay at the nearby Ritz Carlton if you want luxury. You will be too tired to enjoy your accommodations.
DH
On site accommodations were expensive and average quality. Persons attending should be very fit because the pace can be intense and exhausting.
DK
I am 26 and I’ve been playing for a little over 4 years now I just attended the 5-day adult program in February and I was throughly impressed with the entire experience. It was the perfect 5-day getaway to just hit balls and escape the winter in Canada. The instructors Jimmy, Roger and Enrique really helped my game. They were spot on with feedback and were really encouraging over the 5 days. The 6+ hours of hitting a day gives you enough time to work on a goal over and over again – I decided on the first day I needed to stay on the ground and I think I achieved that. I even had a group lesson with Mr. Bollettieri himself, and it was probably the best group lesson of my life – and it came with a video. Yes, it’s expensive, but definitely an experience to remember. Would recommend staying in the clubhouse on the grounds and getting a breakfast and dinner meal plan (lunch is included with the 5-day program). I also had a driver from and to the airport so that was more convenient as well.
SD
Stenghts – You hit a lot of balls, good instructions, you play on clay so nice on the body. Weaknessess – Only so much you can do in three days no matter how good they are. Sometimes too much work on fitness.
KL
The adult tennis camp was fantastic! The coaches were helpful, knowledgeable and always encouraging no matter what level you are in your tennis game. The food was very healthy and tasty. Loved the spa treatments after the end of the day. The therapists were extremely knowledgeable. Also, went to the PT to seek advice for my Plantar flair up. I would recommend to build up your exercise program a few weeks before your date of arrival as 5 and a half hours per day is a lot of exercise if your body is not accustomed to it.
PH
Great experience…even for a mediocre player. The instructors were knowledgable and able to pinpoint small things to help improve my game. The instructors were encouraging and never made you feel you weren’t a good player. Their goal was to help you improve thought great instruction, tips and play. This is a program I would definitely recommend and plan on returning soon myself…in fact, I’m sorry it took me so long to sign up for my first IMG Tennis experience!
MM
I spent 3 days at IMG and had the time of my life, Jimmy and Enrique, did a terrific job. 5+ hrs per day of tennis is really hard core and a physical challenge. I came there to work on my backhand and I particularly appreciated that Jimmy and Enrique showed me so many different things to improve my game – it was OUTSTANDING! I’ll be back next year.
AM
fantastic coaches, great tennis, your tennis improves considerably after 5 days…
TS
I just spent 3 days at the IMG Bolliettierri’s adult core camp. I cannot wait to go back. It is not for the faint of heart. You spend about 7 hours on court per day. they also have 1/2 day programs. The instructional staff is phenomenal, and the video analysis invaluable. They work on everything. Forehand, backhand, serve, volleys, court positioning, mental conditioning, hydration, and court positioning. Jimmy, Roger and Ricky were the greatest. I also had the opportunity to do a lesson with Mr. Bolliettierri which was also put on a DVD. If you go make an effort to so all the stretching and conditioning before both the morning and afternoon sessions, it really helps your body. They also have a spa on sight with some of the best massage therapists. The food at lunch was delicious as well as nutritious and our 1 bedroom suite was very comfortable.
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208 Reviews on “IMG Academy”
High performing teachers-good attitude
IMG is a great place to come for tennis instruction. If you are a student of the game, you will love all the helpful tips and information they provide. If you just like to hit a lot of balls, they do that without overloading you with constant advice. If you ask for advice, they will spend as much time as needed to help you understand. In all of these ways, the program works for many different people. They are very good at paring players with similar skills. The lunch they provide is fantastic (healthy, delicious, and lots of variety). The accommodations are nice and clean. The spa is very nice. Really, there are no glaring weaknesses to their program.
Incredible experience. Highly organized and very well run.
After spending 3 full days at the IMG Adult Tennis Camp, I can safely say that it has been a great overall experience. Very demanding and intense, coaches Jimmy, Roger, Johnatan and Tom gave the participants (a group of 14) the motivation needed to overcome the exhausting days at IMG. Yes, they will have you working hard! And that’s what I wanted. Drills were well explained and demonstrations were long enough for good understanding. It has changed my game and my mentality towards a tennis match. I really enjoyed how they work on your offensive skills (DTL balls, Volleys, Net play). Would have appreciated a little more focus on singles matches, since I’m not a doubles player. My only regret was staying only for 3 days. After the program, I can say that IMG got me FIRED UP!!!
An absolutely great experience. This is the second time I’ve been to the camp and found it even better than last year which was an awesome experience. Roger is a simply one of the most motivating coaches you’ll ever meet. He will get you “fired up”.
Strengths: Good coaching staff. Very clear instruction. Good facilities. Weakness: Admin staff not very informed on programs.
Strengths: Pros were dedicated and truly wanted to deliver an exceptional experience. Weaknesses: There was no focused application of specific shots taught. There was either a drill or points played on free-for-all, there was never a combination of the two – this is critical component for adult learning
Well-organized, punctual, yet with an appreciation of the limitations of 40-50 year olds. Good mix of drills with match situations. Efficient and consistent conveyance of camp teaching methodology. Up to the individual as to how much intensity is involved (no problem sitting out drills if desired). Highlights include experts on psychology, nutrition and vision. Would have appreciated a bit more time spent on individual technical aspects of strokes instead of broadbrushing technique.
Amazing experience. Coaches are top-notch and training for the adult camp is rigorous. This is our second time attending and we have committed to an annual trip. Over the course of the year, we focus on the points learned and come back with more to practice. The more you give to the program, the more you can accomplish.
Great instruction, every coach added a little more to my game…my fit bit registered between 10-13 miles a session. If you’re willing to work hard the end result is incredible. Thanks Jimmy and Roger and the rest of the crew!
Great drills and instruction. The only recommendation I would make is that they try to incorporate more singles vs doubles when practicing game play.
This experience far exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to play some tennis and pick up a few tips from teaching professionals who have never seen me play. I was very happy to find that the pros taught skills and continually reinforced the teaching throughout the program. These are the same professionals who work with world class juniors and their knowledge and skills showed. The instructors were flexible and adjusted the lessons to the needs of our group of seven women.
The strengths for me were the coaches, the drills and the intensity of them. The coaches were all very personable and seemed to truly want to help us all improve our strokes and our game. All of the drills were so helpful to me. The weaknesses were on the administrative end. From the beginning it was difficult to make reservations and to get billing information. Costs for tennis and costs for accommodations. The price changed each time our person called. As of today I was billed incorrectly by $327.81 and I am waiting for a credit to my credit card. If we had not known of the great tennis experience we would have, we would have gone someplace other than this facility.
I have been to the adult camp twice and am returning again next month! One of my adult children has attended the adult camp with me twice and two of my children attended the Junior program 6 times between them. Now two of my children are adults one is still in high school and all four of us are attending camp next month again! I have been active in tennis for over 35 years and continue to learn. Not only do I learn something new every time I attend, I gain knowledge necessary for coaching kids back home. The parents and my students notice the difference every time I return from camp. My enthusiasm and knowledge increases every time and that translates to better attendance, improvement and excitement at the drills I run as part of my own philanthropic mission. Thank you IMG Bollettieri Professionals! You are the best!
Great facility. Very informative. Learned a lot. Staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Do not go without your own group of players of your ability, or you will end up with players of lesser ability and you won’t enjoy the experience. The clinics didn’t teach doubles strategies, more focused on singles play. The accommodations were great, but bring,your own food or go out because the food is not good. More for the kids who live there.
Strengths: The structure, the quality of trainers and the intensity. Weaknesses: I was expecting to receive more specific orientation regarding my strokes.
I attend the adult program a few times a year. The instruction is excellent. Jimmy and Roger are very personable. Make no mistake, you will work hard and hit a whole lot of balls, but it is enjoyable.
I didn’t stay at IMG – live nearby. Instruction was outstanding and I liked the format. Would have liked a little more discussion or execution of strategies for singles and especially doubles. Overall, a very good experience.
Had a GREAT! Time. Strength was instructional staff, especially Roger, Jimmy and Jonathan. Roger’s “fired up” enthusiasm was infectious and VERY motivational. Appreciated Jimmy’s video critiques and Jonathan’s intense driving and specific, ongoing coaching tips. Main weakness is the intensity of the heat and humidity which can lead to exhaustion but staff is aware and pushes hydration and is supportive of individually required rest breaks.
I have wanted to attend the IMG Bolletieri Academy for many years. I finally made it there this summer, and it exceeded every expectation that I had! IMG is a world-class training facility which any serious tennis player will love. The coaches are excellent! They challenged me and they made the experience fun. Thank you Jimmy, Jonathan and especially Roger for making me feel at home and pushing me so hard! Fire it up! The clay was beautiful, the Gatorade was cold, and the warm up was well organized and thorough. The program is professionally run and well structured. Seeing myself on video was extremely helpful as well. I made improvements in my game and the conditioning work I did at home really paid off! I was able to meet Nick, who was kind enough to invite my friend and I in to watch part of a lesson. Afterwards, he took the time to meet us and pose for pictures. He was so nice, full of energy, and very inspiring! If you enroll in the full day camp, be sure to bring a second outfit, you will need it! The program will definitely challenge your stamina – make sure you are in shape before you come. The food was great. All healthy and light options which were perfect to fuel us up for the afternoon. Everyone I encountered on campus was helpful and professional. The Sarasota area is wonderful, you will be close enough to several beaches to enjoy them fully after tennis. Don’t miss Lido Beach and Siesta Key, the views are breathtaking and the sunsets are stunning. An unbelievable experience! I cannot wait to go back!
Very good resort. Very good instructor. Time on the court was great. Accommodations were ok. They need a renovation. Food was good.
Great experience. Loved the coaches and the training. Will be booking another trip to Bollettieri!
Great camp! Instructors were very skilled and highly motivating.
IMG is an intensive 3-5 day program that is outstanding. The coaching is first rate, great instructors and very positive motivators. But this is a serious camp for players that want to improve; you will run hard and push your body to perform at a high level. Every day has a different focus and you will leave the camp a better player. Been to several other tennis camps, IMG is substantially better, I highly recommend.
Amazing energy and motivation from Roger. He’s such a huge reason we return every year! They provide great instruction and opportunity for lots of repitition because you get to hit a ton of balls Everyone always makes you feel very welcome there. My only “complaint” was that the video analysis was done immediately upon our arrival after driving into town. We had not hit a single ball so I didn’t feel the video ended up being as accurate of a picture of our strokes as I had hoped
Coaching, time on the court, coach to player ratio
The teaching staff worked hard to make sure everyone who had something they wanted to work on received some individual attention. I was very impressed with the teaching staff and how hard they worked. I had a great time and learned a lot! Thank you Roger and Jimmy!! AWESOME!
I have been 4 years in a row to IMG – absolutely love it. I know I’m going to work my you-know-what off while I’m there – the instructors are going to push me but I’m going to learn a ton of new things and make a ridiculous amount of improvement. I’ve never had a bad experience here.
Excellent ATP level instructors. Many futures players help with instructions to get their own coaching. Great concept. Atmosphere is all tennis with many ATP pros on campus
Spent the weekned at IMG- it was fanstic! Jimmy Royalty and his team were supepreb trainers and motivators. I would go back in a second. I highly reccommend him and his team-
I had high expectations for the camp and they were exceeded primarily due to the great facilities, overall infrastructure (pro shop, spa, cafeteria), and a commitment by the instructors to push you into becoming a better player. I’ve been to other tennis facilities which tend to be more about the resort than the quality of the tennis—if you are committed, you will walk out of here a better player with a better assessment of your strengths and weaknesses (both physically and mentally). The other campers had a similar mindset of working hard and trying to get better and so it made for a great experience.
excellent facilities, exceptional and disciplined teaching staff. challenging in a good way – unique experience.
Great place where it is possible to learn indipendendtly from the age. Lot of fun but for sure you can play tennis much better after the course. Great people. The weak part regards the administrative organization that sometimes make a little mess….
The Adult Program at Bollettieri’s Tennis program is always a worthwhile experience. Hitting thousands of balls develops muscle memory which helps days down the road when you get back at home. You also get into incredible shape playing tennis for a full day. The pro’s are wonderful and really a pleasure to be around. I highly recommend this program if you want to improve your game over time.
Excellent coaching for 5 hours a day.Pleased they did warm up exercises, Demonstrations were very good. The encouragement and on the ball instruction and comments were the best. Had great fun, hard work ,plenty of perspiration lots of gratification.
Been for second year in a row and once again was very pleased. I am an advanced tennis player and this is the best camp available in my opinion. Very professional, hard work but also very good fun. Facilities are great and standards of teaching are the best I have experienced. Only slight improvement needed is the accommodation which is old and tired.
Coaches Jimmy, Roger, and Enrique will push you hard and get the most out of you. They sincerely care about you. Arrive in shape since you will be working hard. In addition to the great coaching, drills, etc… you get to know your fellow players from all around the world. I have attended IMG on a half day basis on 3 separate occasions and it is simply the best. I highly recommend.
You are going to hit lots of balls! You will work hard and when I left, I knew my game had improved. Typically as an adult, you do not get the chance to play for several hours on multiple days to get that muscle memory of your strokes. I got out of the program what I wanted and my strokes are stronger.
I participated in the 3-day adult tennis camp in March 2015. (This is just a review on the tennis camp and not the accommodations as I lodged off-campus). It was one of the best experiences, and I highly recommend the program to tennis aficionados of all ages and levels. You will get your butt kicked, but in a good way. I have been to another highly renowned tennis camp in the vicinity a couple of times before, but found IMG Bollettieri’s program to be superior – there was consistency across the coaches (thank you, Jimmy, Roger, Rachel, and Enrique), who were amazing and genuinely cared to help improve my game. They also provided a lot of personalized attention and will take into consideration what the camper is seeking to achieve/improve. Also, while this may be a matter of personal preference, I sought to focus more on improving my technique via instruction and drilling as opposed to spending a lot of time playing doubles or strategizing match plays. Separately, I also recommend booking a sports massage at the IMG Wellness Spa – because they are used to treating athletes, they know exactly what they are doing to help you recover from muscle soreness. I’m already looking forward to planning my next visit!
If you are looking for a great workout, and the opportunity to hit a lot of balls, this camp is great. I am not a very consistent player, but like to play tennis when I can. I met great people from all over the world during my 5 day camp, and the staff was exceptional. Friendly, fun and professional. The food was fantastic, and the facilities amazing. It is recommended that you be physically prepared for the camp, especially if you do the 5 days. It is the best advice you will get. Be ready to work and work hard! In the end you won’t regret it! I would go again in a New York Minute! Thanks again for a great experience!
IMG’s Tennis Academy is the pinnacle of tennis teaching. The instruction is unparalleled. My son was attending a week long tennis session so I decided to join him by attending the adult tennis camp. We had the privilege of taking a group lesson with the father of modern tennis Nick Bolettieri. I was skeptical about his methods, but the man fully deserves is reputation as a tennis legend. One by one he noticed everyone’s faults and offered simple changes to the correct the problem. Jimmy Royalty and Roger Blackburn of the adult tennis program provided a grueling yet insight instruction on playing tennis. During my session I improved immensely and hope to go back in the future. Juan Herrera the head of the junior camps was equally as positive and insightful. The staff provided positive critiques of the juniors. They kept them focussed and disciplined. They group the kids based on ability. They had some of the full time kids play with the stronger players. This is without a doubt the premier place for junior tennis in America and possibly the world. The accommodations are three and half star. You can always stay at the nearby Ritz Carlton if you want luxury. You will be too tired to enjoy your accommodations.
On site accommodations were expensive and average quality. Persons attending should be very fit because the pace can be intense and exhausting.
I am 26 and I’ve been playing for a little over 4 years now I just attended the 5-day adult program in February and I was throughly impressed with the entire experience. It was the perfect 5-day getaway to just hit balls and escape the winter in Canada. The instructors Jimmy, Roger and Enrique really helped my game. They were spot on with feedback and were really encouraging over the 5 days. The 6+ hours of hitting a day gives you enough time to work on a goal over and over again – I decided on the first day I needed to stay on the ground and I think I achieved that. I even had a group lesson with Mr. Bollettieri himself, and it was probably the best group lesson of my life – and it came with a video. Yes, it’s expensive, but definitely an experience to remember. Would recommend staying in the clubhouse on the grounds and getting a breakfast and dinner meal plan (lunch is included with the 5-day program). I also had a driver from and to the airport so that was more convenient as well.
Stenghts – You hit a lot of balls, good instructions, you play on clay so nice on the body. Weaknessess – Only so much you can do in three days no matter how good they are. Sometimes too much work on fitness.
The adult tennis camp was fantastic! The coaches were helpful, knowledgeable and always encouraging no matter what level you are in your tennis game. The food was very healthy and tasty. Loved the spa treatments after the end of the day. The therapists were extremely knowledgeable. Also, went to the PT to seek advice for my Plantar flair up. I would recommend to build up your exercise program a few weeks before your date of arrival as 5 and a half hours per day is a lot of exercise if your body is not accustomed to it.
Great experience…even for a mediocre player. The instructors were knowledgable and able to pinpoint small things to help improve my game. The instructors were encouraging and never made you feel you weren’t a good player. Their goal was to help you improve thought great instruction, tips and play. This is a program I would definitely recommend and plan on returning soon myself…in fact, I’m sorry it took me so long to sign up for my first IMG Tennis experience!
I spent 3 days at IMG and had the time of my life, Jimmy and Enrique, did a terrific job. 5+ hrs per day of tennis is really hard core and a physical challenge. I came there to work on my backhand and I particularly appreciated that Jimmy and Enrique showed me so many different things to improve my game – it was OUTSTANDING! I’ll be back next year.
fantastic coaches, great tennis, your tennis improves considerably after 5 days…
I just spent 3 days at the IMG Bolliettierri’s adult core camp. I cannot wait to go back. It is not for the faint of heart. You spend about 7 hours on court per day. they also have 1/2 day programs. The instructional staff is phenomenal, and the video analysis invaluable. They work on everything. Forehand, backhand, serve, volleys, court positioning, mental conditioning, hydration, and court positioning. Jimmy, Roger and Ricky were the greatest. I also had the opportunity to do a lesson with Mr. Bolliettierri which was also put on a DVD. If you go make an effort to so all the stretching and conditioning before both the morning and afternoon sessions, it really helps your body. They also have a spa on sight with some of the best massage therapists. The food at lunch was delicious as well as nutritious and our 1 bedroom suite was very comfortable.