Saddlebrook Resort has a well-deserved reputation for staging one of the most—if not, the most—demanding tennis programs on the planet. The underlying philosophy owes much to the training techniques of the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach and notorious taskmaster Harry Hopman. His was a taxing regimen designed at once to improve technique and push the envelope of his charge’s stamina and endurance. That reputation for toughness draws aspiring juniors to its academy and committed adults, the latter attracted to the blend of rigorous workouts and Saddlebrook’s full resort amenities.
Saddlebrook Resort garnered awards for its design when it opened in 1981. The 480-acre layout, 25 miles north of Tampa, places the lodging, restaurants, shops, a lakesize swimming pool, tennis courts, spa, golf clubhouse, and meeting rooms at the center of a halo of golf fairways, condos, and residential neighborhoods. Centralizing all of the major amenities creates what they call a “Walking Village.” Foliage is lush, ponds and lakes dot the property, and birds are abundant, including several endangered species for which this is a refuge and a rookery.
This is hardly the setting you’d expect for the mother of all hard-core tennis camps, but having all those amenities provides relief from the rigors of the daily regimen while its guard gate provides privacy and security—one reason touring pros visit between tournaments to work on their games. Its juniors, both live-in and short term, hope the program will set them on the road to greatness (or at least a college scholarship), while adults come looking to get in shape, test their physical mettle, or perhaps search for a magic elixir to cure, once and for all, the flaws in their game. It is also often true that the adults frequently underestimate the physical demands a program like this makes, and that even though none has ever in his or her life played five hours of tennis a day, they somehow think they are ready for five hours a day of drills.
Although the historical philosophy of the program has to push you to the point that your game breaks down, find what is salvageable in the rubble, and rebuild from there. That said, after my last visit I came away thinking that this approach has mellowed somewhat in recent years. In my early participation in the Hopman program, as it was known then, I remember being chastised for ignoring a feed too wide for me to reach, only to have the next fed wider until I learned that it was crucial to make an attempt even when you thought you had no chance of reaching the balls. I remember, too, the so-called “bucket of ball” drills and “kamikaze” drills that had you scampering right and left and back again until you pleaded exhaustion or the pro was convinced you’d had enough.
My sense is that while the regimen remains demanding, the boot-camp approach has been abandoned. None of the pros on my latest visit adopted an in-your-face drill sergeant’s demeanor (though I was told that if that’s what you want, it is available). Instead, they established key concepts essential to hitting well—early preparation, eyes on the ball, full follow-through—and then ran drills and competitive exercises to put those concepts into practice. Still, there were times when we were grateful for the break afforded by the need to pick up balls.
Although there are exceptions, you typically stay with the same pro throughout your stay (barring his or her days off), so they oversee your progress first-hand. They tailor the work to the abilities of the campers they oversee. Rather than stand in one place and hit picture-perfect strokes, you pretty much have to run for every ball. Like the pros, you’ll do a lot of two-on-one drills, and if your skills permit it live-ball drills and competitive games with the other campers on your court. The process can be exhilarating, demoralizing, or both, but you will come away from this program knowing where you stand with respect to your aerobic conditioning and what you really need to do to take your game to the next level.
If courts alone were the measure of a great tennis resort, then Saddlebrook would rank near the top. It has 45 courts altogether, including hard, clay, red clay, Rebound Ace (the surface formerly used at the Australian Open) and grass, all of which—the grass included—are available to guests. The major complex is near the center of the resort. There is a secondary complex a mile away in Lakeside Village, which is also the site of the 3,000-square-foot fitness center and high-performance complex and where the juniors enrolled in the academy work out. All of the courts are laid out in clusters of two to five separated by an awning-covered patio furnished with chairs and a refrigerated water fountain.
Tennis Staff: Although Harry Hopman, the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach, died in 1985, the organization he built survives. The core group of staff, many longtime Saddlebrook pros, expands and contracts based on how many adults are enrolled in the programs—as many as are needed to keep the student:pro ratio at 4:1 of less.
Tennis Programs: Although the resort itself offers some perfunctory stroke-of-the-day clinics (run by tennis-academy staff), the real reason a tennis player would come here is the Hopman-inspired camps.
Unlike some other dedicated facilities and college-campus programs, Hopman’s does not include any meals in the package, so for other dining you’re left to fend for yourself at the quite good but pricey restaurants at the resort itself or pile into cars for trips beyond the resort. Caveat: The Saddlebrook program can be among the most physically demanding of all the camps, so start a workout regimen weeks before you come down. Bring two pairs of tennis shoes, several changes of clothes (washers and dryers are available in each lodging cluster), a hat, sunblock, two racquets if you have them (broken strings are commonplace), and overgrip.
Off Court
Golf Courses: Saddlebrook has two 18-hole courses, both designed by Arnold Palmer, and an Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. Tee times for any of the following courses can be reserved.
Palmer Course: This course is characterized by open, undulating fairways, and an abundance of lakes, streams and ponds. Par: 71. Length: 5,212-6,469 yards.
Saddlebrook Course: Though flatter than the Palmer course, this one is also tighter, with tree-lined fairways and water on most of its holes. Par: 70. Length: 5,183-6,603 yards.
Spa & Fitness Center: The 7,000-square-foot Spa in the walking village has 12 treatment rooms offering massages, hydrotherapy treatments, and some beauty services; however, it is currently closed. Campers who can still walk at the end of the day are welcome to use the 3,300-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center in Lakeside Village, a 10-minute walk from the Superpool, but it’s rate that anyone does so. It has a full line of Cybex equipment plus treadmills, stair steppers, recumbent bicycles, elliptical trainers, and rubber-encased freeweights all in rooms with views of a swimming pool or volley ball pit. Personal trainers are on hand to help you craft a workout regimen. There is also an adjacent high-performance sports center, which offers specialized training programs often to professional athletes.
The centerpiece of the resort is its half-million-gallon, amoeba-shaped Superpool, said to be the largest in Florida. At 270 feet long, it is vast enough to contain a 25-meter lap pool, water volleyball and water basketball courts, and a diving area. Around it are children’s wading pools and two heated whirlpools. There is another swimming pool near the Sports Village & Fitness Center. Otherwise, recreation run to bike trails around the property and bass fishing in the privately stocked lakes.
Children's programs: The S’Kids Club operates year round providing supervised activities for kids ages 4-12.
Dining: The TD’s Sports Bar has light fare and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dempsey’s Steakhouse is currently closed; however it’s menu prime beef and seafood is available at TD’s Sports Bar. There’s also a pool bar for lunch and poolside cocktails.
Accommodations
There are a total of 790 rooms and suites at Saddlebrook, most of them in 50-unit clusters variously arrayed near the main clubhouse and pool, or out along the golf fairways. Each cluster has an ice machine and washer/dryer. The most basic accommodation is a hotel room with two double beds and a private balcony or patio. The alternatives are one- and two-bedroom suites (which anywhere else would be called condos). These have full kitchens (with coffee makers and dishwashers; most have microwaves, if not you can request one), separate living and dining areas, and one or two bedrooms, each with a full bath. The living room opens onto a patio or balcony. High-speed Internet access is available throughout the resort.
Anyone who enrolls in the Saddlebrook International Tennis program is eligible for discounted room rates. By booking tennis and lodging together, you get a deluxe guest room, 5 hours/day of intensive tennis, complimentary court time, daily lunch, and access to the fitness center and spa. One- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens are also available.
Getting there
Seasons: The resort and its Hopman tennis programs operate year-round; however, given the grueling nature of these clinics, you should think twice about coming in summer—unless, of course, you want to work out in hot, humid conditions. Principally for that reason, the camps are generally two to three times larger during the fall, winter, and spring than in summer.
Great experience at5day adult camp. 3 to 1 or less pro to student ratio. Pro kept returning to what I wanted to work on and due to his patience and persistence the “lightbulb” finally went on. Good matching of player levels. Thanks Mike M. This place is all about high class tennis instruction. I hope to return next year.
MC
Everything is truly excellent: tremendous teaching led by Howard Moore, who seems born to do this. Each time our family goes (at least six times now) all of us are re-energized and excited about our improvement. Terrific atmosphere–and it doesn’t hurt that the poolside area is very relaxing and first-class after a rigorous day on the courts!
CM
Planned to spend 9 days on the court, injury cut it down to 6, the staff were very accommodating and flexible regarding the injury. My entire court time was spent with Tai, a very accomplished player and coach. Any request was incorporated into the sessions. The sessions were fun and grueling – just what I expected from the Hopman camp.
JH
Just returned from 8 days at Saddlebrook….5 full days in the adult camp. The 2 pros I worked with were exceptional…Steve Getchell for 4 days, and Tai for one day. Both had many yrs. of experience, and provided lots of good technical advice; we did drills I hadn’t done before, and I hit a ton of balls. As a 4.5/5.0 player that’s what I was looking for. I’m looking forward to returning again, and hoping to work with the same pros. Can’t comment on the lodging as we stayed in a friend’s house on Saddlebrook’s grounds. The Spa, pool, and restaurants there though were excellent. I’d highly recommend a visit to Saddlebrook.
DB
Howard Moore is enthusiastic & genuinely concerned with the development of all players while John Fitts (former vanderbilt coach) provided excellent drills & instruction. Great experience for me, a fomer tennis coach!
AR
Outstanding place to go for an intensive tennis learning experience. By and large, the instructors are all very good at teaching and playing tennis, and find different ways of working on your tennis issues. Nice strething program, which is entertaining, followed by 3 hours of 4:1 student instructor at most, sometimes you may be the only one. Students are put together by abilities, but if things are not working, or you dont mesh with the style of your instructor, Howard, the head honcho is very quick at making comfortable reassignments. Afternoon is another two hours, should you choose and is made in part of fun competitive playing out of points. There are a variety of court surfaces, and sometime you can play on grass. There are some high ranked touring pros around for you to see as well. A great experience. The resort is very nice, with a large pool and decent restaraunts at the resort and in the vicinity. Room that I stayed in a few times was very comfortable. Well worth travelling from California. If you are a gluton for punishment, they have a very good golf training facility as well.
MO
We just returned from a family trip to Saddlebrook. We have two boys that we enrolled in the all day tennis program. Not being a big tennis player myself, I thought I might just take one private lesson. Well…….Scott Brown my private instructor was so fantastic that I think I should give tennis another shot. He has the perfect sense of when to really push and when to be a little kind to a 45 year old tennis novice. In as far as the program that Howard runs all day, all I can say is WOW! Not many 5 hour a day tennis programs can make 12 year old boys ask when we might return to Saddlebrook, Enroll your kids and they will love it!!
RL
the 5 day tennis program was excellent. The pros who conducted the training were first rate including Mark M, Steve Brady, Sean and Tony. The head of the program Howard oversaw the program and did an excellent job in selecting his trainers. We plan on going again.
MB
Lots of tennis and lots of fun! By the way, great coaching as one says!
JA
Strengths: Howard and Staff! Clay courts, cutting edge instruction, hours on court, great setting/ food/accommodations/spa. Weaknesses: Game matching at the 4.5/5.0 level can be erratic.
BE
This tennis “boot camp” is a dream for serious tennis lovers looking to improve their game at any level. The coaching is personalized and does not condescend or pamper. I started with everyone else at 7:50am for a 10 minute warm-up, and from then on, for the next three hours, we drilled, drilled drilled. Not for the faint of heart, but for the more ambitious, goal oriented. Good way to start 2012.
AB
I am a 5.0 tennis player in my 30s. As a young dad I don’t have a lot of time to play. I came with a friend for a chance to play a lot and perfect my shots. We had a blast! Shawn was an amazing teacher. It was demanding enough but still fun. The resort is great and the pool is gorgeous. We already want to come back!
JM
Great for working your strokes, getting ready for the next season. Very professional pros. Keeps you moving and interested. My experience was that I was not challenged enough, and needed to move to another group.
SG
Saddlebrook is the best adult tennis camp in South Florida. The pros are excellent and really help you understand the mechanics of your strokes in detail. The are relentless in keeping on your technique, which I really appreciate. I’m a 3.5/4.0 player and take yearly tennis vacations there and I always ask for Steve Getchell, he’s great.
MS
We have just returned from a 12 day stay at Saddlebrook Resort. Our son is a competitive junior player and participated in the Hopman Program which runs every day, 5 hours a day. The program exceeded our expectations. The over site and organization by the Director and staff was incredible and the coaching was amazing. The groups were very small, never more than 3-4 player, (sometimes 2), to a coach. The players were very closely matched so that they had great drills and match play. They always knew what was going on with each player, an incredible feat, and checked in with each player frequently. My son made us book a return trip this spring before we even left the resort. The hospitality throughout the entire resort was wonderful, they all worked very hard to make sure we had a delightful stay. We certainly did and we will be back!!
MG
Saddlebrook was unbelievably wonderful. The tennis instruction was superb and its youth program is the standard that other places attempt to equal.
JO
I attended a 2 day adult tennis camp. Tai Lam was my instructor. The experience was incredible. Tai is a very knowledgeable instructor with a great attention to detail. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to take their tennis game to another level.
BF
Just returned from our first trip to Saddlebrook. Already planning our next! Myself (3.0) my husband (4.5) and our 6 yr old son were there Monday – Friday. My son did the Quickstart program from 8-10am and then enjoyed the Kids Camp. They swam 2 of the three days (cool temps) played video games, did crafts, watched movies, and made new friends. My husband and I participated in 3 full days of tennis. He learned a lot from Dave and Darren. Was pleased with the level of players he was matched with. I enjoyed my groupings, but wished there was more focus on singles strategies than doubles. Tony was an excellent instructor who pushed me, but at the same time was encouraging. The highlight of my trip was my daily private lesson with Scott. He quickly “cleaned up” my forehand, and later had a “eureka” moment with my serve. Definitely enjoy the breakfast buffet – I found lots of healthy choices that helped fuel my 3 hour morning session~lots of fresh ripe fruit, and my favorite, steel cut oatmeal. Dinner was limited to Dempseys Too. There they had a top end menu and a lounge menu. Servers were helpful in finding food choices for us. In fact EVERY single waiter/waitress was friendly, going out of their way to make our dining experience enjoyable. Disagree with reviewers who thought the level of exertion was extremely high. Have been to clinics that involved much more strenuous drills. Another camp we attended had people picking up balls so there was no interruption in tennis time Saddlebrook had more down time picking up balls. Fellow adult “campers” were all friendly. I can’t wait to go back to my club tomorrow and put what I learned in to action. THANKS Saddlebrook for a wonderful vacation!!
RS
I’ve been to Saddlebrook six times over the last three years and what I like most about Saddlebrook is the combination of relaxing setting and rigorous tennis instruction. After the tennis staff works you bone tired for five hours nothing feels better than recovering in the hot tubs and cool swimming pools under the palm trees and being attended to by the bar staff running back and forth for drinks. Compared to the other Florida tennis camps, (I’ve also been to IMG twice), Saddlebrook is overall more enjoyable because of the setting and staff. The people working at Saddlebrook know we are there to improve our tennis but also have a pleasant time. The attitude of both tennis and resort staff is unsurpassed in my experience. No one ever says “no” there. Whatever you want, you got it. They are flexible to changing schedules and injuries and if it happens to rain they hand you a rain check good for a year. You will want to go back if you go to Saddlebrook. You will also become a better tennis player.
AG
Great instruction, Vlad the ‘Improver’, excellent coach. Food options very limited, overpriced and mediocre. Friendly staff.
EC
Had such a great experience at the Saddlebrook Resort & Spa. The tennis instructors were fabulous, accommodating and additive to my game. Very experienced.
KN
Tennis camp (5 hrs/day) and accommodations and meals were all excellent! Going back in February!
RS
A friend & I flew down for a girls’ weekend of tennis – arrived Friday eve & left Sunday night. Too cold for a northern tennis camp & just a quick jump to Tampa from NYC. The tennis – excellent. Seems to be low season right before the holidays so there weren’t many in attendance (December 11th & 12th). Weather was perfect for tennis – a bit cloudy so that you weren’t dying from heat. Day one we had Emmanuel as our pro for the two of us – 3 hours in the morn & 2 hours in the afternoon. During the morning, Sean came by & took videos of us & gave fantastic advice, including pointing out my dead left arm during my forehands – which absolutely no instructor had ever noticed or pointed out. He gave clear, excellent advice on what we were doing, and then worked with us on the court to implement changes. Both my serve & forehand immediately improved. Emmanuel was excellent (and a great guy too!) & continued to drill us & reinforce what we had learned & needed to work on. On day two, we started the day with a pro to ourselves again – Matt worked with us again reinforcing what we needed to work on & taking us through drills & playing against each other. In the afternoon, we each did a bit of one-on-one with Matt, while the other joined pro Larry & another student to work on doubles strategy. We spent the last hour focusing on doubles strategy & practicing this on the court (we play doubles at home). Larry was incredibly knowledgeable & had endless tips, & was a blast to work with. Throughout the weekend, all instructors were on us to ensure we kept fixing what we were already shown, as well as continue to improve. Howard was always checking up on us to make sure we were happy & learning, and to see what else we would want to focus on. He also used his eagle eye to spot other issues we might be having and to immediately come over & help us adjust. I could go on & on, but overall, this was an excellent tennis program – as well as an enjoyable two days. They really work to meet your expectations – whether it’s a relaxed lesson, or more technical, or more strategy. The rooms – fabulous! We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite which was wonderful. A bit dated in one bathroom for some reason (striped wallpaper?) but everything else was great. The restaurants were all good. As others have said, a bit expensive for their steaks, but then being from NYC, nothing that shocked us. Excellent lunches! The staff – wonderful on & off the tennis courts! Seriously terrific! The spa – I had a wonderful facial & my friend had a special manicure. We were both thrilled with the treatments & staff who went out of their way to accommodate us (thank you Ashley). The location – absolutely lovely – you had no idea you had just gotten off a highway. Pro-shop – excellent selection of clothes, but limited number of sports bras (Small or XL) – which my friend needed but wasn’t the size. We would definitely recommend Saddlebrook for a weekend or more (although quite a few students were local & would stop by just for the morning or day).
HH
Strengths: Great coaches! Steve and Tony especially were first rate. Incredible tennis knowledge, ability to diagnose and instruct as well as all around cool guys. Student/coach ratio was never more than 4:1 and for most of my five day program, it was 3:1. Court availability, private lesson bookings were never an issue. Lots of surfaces to choose from. First class resort: the food, from the pool bar to Dempseys is delicious. One of the better steaks I have had this year, great fish and healthy options. Rooms are clean, spacious, new TVs and carpets. Spa was incredible, massages varied and relaxing.
Weakness: expensive, especially the steak house, private lessons and spa
DC
I came to the camp with 3 Friends for Shawn. He was great. great instruction. I highly recommend going. the accomadations were very good. food at Dempseys for dinner was over the top. the breakfast Buffet as well.
PC
Flew there w/5 other gals for a birthday celebration. Easy to get to from the airport. All the staff are very friendly but have to give a plug to 2 very professional, positive pros (Sean & Tony)who gave great individual video evaluation and kept the drills fun and challenging. Food’s great & nearby mall (www.theshopsatwiregrass.com) is a nice plus. 2 Golf courses are well groomed & challenging. The rooms are in need of updating but very pleasant. Seems like they are always working on improving the resort. Weakness- If you don’t play tennis or golf,there’s not a lot of options, there’s an ok spa but no yoga or fitness classes. I’m personally looking forward to going back.
JA
Saddlebrook Tennis is the tennis mecca! Howard and his well-qualified, exceptional, hard-working team of Pros (we especially enjoyed Vlad, Scott, and Larry) take a personal interest in every player at Saddlebrook. No matter what your level of play, you will receive incredible instruction (4 to 1 student to teacher ratio), exercise and be entertained! The Har-Tru courts are in superb condition and are gentle on knees and feet, and make for challenging but fun spin on the ball. The spa services, pool, and hot tub help revive you for the next day’s instruction. You’ll meet other tennis enthusiasts from all over the world. You can have private lessons, use the ball machine, pick up matches and watch young Pros and juniors hit and workout. If you love tennis, you will love Saddlebrook. It is simply the best and they work hard to earn that distinction.
MR
This was my third time at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy and I can’t wait to go back – it’s always great, and when I’ve brought friends they love it too! Steve is amazing – will make you a better player for sure and he’s so much fun. Scott will run you all over with incredible amounts of support! Some coaches will break down and fix your strokes, others will work you till you drop and Howard will make sure you are on the court that fits your dreams. Nothing is a problem – Saddlebrook aims to please. The people that go there are always fun, the resort is beautiful and the accommodations are relaxing; the spa is super and the service is out of this world! Cannot recommend enough!
BW
My wife and I spent a week at Saddlebrook Tennis and took one hour private lessons on a daily basis. Our instructor, Scott Brown, was recommended by Howard Moore, head of Tennis at Saddlebrook. Scott reviewed all aspects of our game – forehand, backhand, serve, volley, passing shots and strategy. We improved from Scott’s coaching and would highly recommend both the resort and Scott. We did not notice any weaknesses to report.
CP
The Hopman Tennis program at Saddlebrook is excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their game, learn new techniques, and play with a great group of folks while being taught by some of the best there is in Tennis. I enjoyed every bit of it. The coaching staff is very friendly and are extremely experienced. They took time to addreess issues I had with my game and I left a better player just after 3 days of play than when I had come in. I know what to keep working on and improve. This was my first time there and I will be going there again much sooner than later. I have also tried a tennis camp in Boston, MA but I have to say that this was exceptional.
BH
This is my 22nd time at Saddlebrook Hopman tennis. It is the best program, although the most intense, in the US. One of the strengths of this program is that the teaching staff works with your current strokes to improve your game, rather than make drastic changes. My game continues to improve year after year. I can’t wait to go back.
PW
I had a great experience at Saddlebrook. I was definitely pushed to my physical limits, while fine tuning my game. Steve was my coach for the 4 days that I was there. He was great at pushing each person in the group to their potential and providing individual attention as needed. Howard, the Director, was very accomodating and was eager to make sure that my goals were met.. He arranged for me to hit with Daren and Mark on separate occassions to work on singles strategy. -Totally awesome experience. The only weakness for the resort is the food which I would rate as marginal, and inconsistent with the high cost.
FJ
Great coaching and staff. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I stayed over a weekend and was extremely impressed how accomodating the team were, they got players for me to play with and even remembered me from my last visit 6 months ago. I never had more than 1 other person on the court with me and left feeling as if I got the same treatment as James Blake or John Isner. I have been to a number of camps and Saddlebrook tops the list! Highly recommended!
CH
Second visit to Saddlebrook for me. This year, I brought a friend a mine, and happily everything I told her about my previous trip turned out to be true, if not better. The biggest strenght about Saddlebrook is the teaching. Pros are the best and they really deliver that they promise : i.e. 5 hours of excellent teaching with a ratio of 4 students per pro. The facilities are awesome. The only downside is perhaps not enough options for eating and the fact that the room service menu is not as good as the year before ( way less items to choose from). A forgot to mention the Spa. Receiving a massage is sometimes a luxury, but not after 15 hours of tennis in 3 days. In other words, I strongly recommend that you pay a visit to the Spa. You will also appreciate the super confortable mattresses and luxury bedding. I can’t wait to return.
JP
We had an amazing time. Great family vacation. Tennis pros were great.
SG
Just returned from fabulous tennis at Saddlebrook. The camp is hard core…and I loved every minute of intruction! Coaches take time to video tape you on the courts and then review with you. Coaches gave good directions to improve technique. Everyone on staff offered good tips. I felt that nobody would give up on me! I am a 3.0-3.5 player and felt comfortable on the courts with everyone. They call it “tennis boot camp”! If you love playing tennis sign up for both morning and afternoon, this is the place to be!! Will return soon!!
MB
Excellent experience, excellent instruction.
JT
Very nice tennis resort. Perfect organization competent and friendly staff. I had amazing 5 1/2 training days that I will never forget. Special thanks to the fantastic coach Mark Magone who have very goo eyes and is able to provide lot’s of hints in order to improve my tennis. COngratulations, very good job! I will be back as soon as I can.
AS
I had the excellent opportunity to visit Saddlebrook this fall. I’m a 4.0 USTA computer rated player who’s stopped taking lessons/drills as I feel I’ve become overly familiar with the typical mantras of tennis. I came with the intent of developing a topspin backhand (one-handed). I was pretty satisfied with my FH prior to my trip feeling I really couldn’t improve it much without doing something drastic. I found their teaching style to be excellent and while I heard some of the same tennis phrases, what clicked with me was they took great care to illustrate the modifications they suggested. They were also very friendly and willing to discuss why they made one suggestion over another. For example on the BH grip they helped show me how a modification would allow me to hit a cleaner shot without requiring so precise a timing. For someone who’s more analytical, these explanations really help to solidify the changes. Ironically I also realized that I really can improve my FH and make it a whole lot stronger. As an aside when I first started playing tennis I noted the teachers would often come over and physically adjust our grips or swing paths; for some reason as I’ve gotten better this has become less common as the teaching becomes more verbal. I was pleasantly surprised to see the pros make these kind of physical adjustments here. Some people learn well verbally but others learn from a combination of visual and kinesthetic cues. The other thing that I thought was neat was one pro came over to my side of the court and tossed the ball as opposed to feeding from across the net. It really gives a great deal of attention to your stroke and helps establish the contact point. Finally they will have someone come out and make a short videotape your strokes; again this is a useful learning tool particularly for visual learners. I had signed up for three full days of tennis. Based on what I had done in other sorts of camps, I didn’t expect it to be quite as challenging. Next time, I will sign up for just the morning. I realize now that in most other programs they have warm up, cool down, changing courts, chalk time, stories, etc. At Saddlebrook, you are actually drilling the entire 3 hours on the same court. Picking up the tennis balls is your main rest! The warmup is actually scheduled 10 minutes before the drills. Cooldown is on your own after the drills. There were no monologues of the Bryan Brothers or Harry Hopman. In fact, on the third day I finally asked them about the Hopman method since I didn’t want to leave without hearing about it. If you haven’t been drilling like a junior player, stick to the half day sessions. I never got to take advantage of the free court time or match play as I was exhausted. I came here solo so I could crash into a deep sleep at 8. Again next time I’d just limit myself to the morning especially if I bring my wife and kids along. Speaking of families, I’m not sure how entertained non-tennis or non-golf spouses and kids would be here. Disney is a fair distance away. The main road around the resort has a lot of construction and looks to just have strip malls. There is a big swimming pool but how many days can they play in a pool? I was also impressed by how well they accommodated different levels of players. There were some better than I and they felt challenged and stimulated. On another court there were a group of women who mainly wanted to work on doubles and it looked like they had a great time. The most we had were 3 on a court; usually there were 2 and once there was just one (I). I had a different pro each day but found them all to be great. There was fortunately no contradictory teaching though some pros will pick apart or emphasize different portions of your game. The resort boasts having all 4 grand slam surfaced; we played on har-tru courts (similar to clay). I feel this is good for the wear and tear but I suppose there are some people who can’t stand the surface. They don’t have indoor courts but the clay courts are playable within 30 minutes of a shower. I think they have a raincheck policy if you do get rained out though I never had to use it. I’d recommend bringing 1-2 extra shirts to account for the humidity. I also broke strings on two of my three racquets. The tennis shop though is well stocked and I was able to get my racquets strung in a day and purchase another dry-fit shirt. The resort restaurants have sufficient variety even I as a vegetarian felt content to remain “on base” for all my meals. It’s been over a week since I left. First thing I noticed was my timing on hard courts is way off. Second thing was that my one handed topspin BH feels very natural and didn’t disappear. I think as I adjust to my regular courts I will see similar benefits in my FH. Al in all it was a very satisfying tennis experience. I hope to return again in 6-9 months to have them work on my strokes. I’d highly recommend this program especially for those of you who feel you have plateaued.
KM
Our summer 2010 stay at Saddlebrook was the best value vacation we have ever had. We will certainly be back next summer though we have never in the past returned to a vacation spot, preferring to try new places. My husband and I initially selected Saddlebrook because it offered tennis camps for our 9 year-old son, while offering a resort setting that we could enjoy as a family. It was a superb choice. Our son was fully engaged in his daily tennis routine, taking the on-site shuttle back and forth between our suite and the courts. On the second day, my husband and I tried out the half hour tennis clinic as it was included in the Summer Special. We loved it so much, we did the morning and afternoon half clinics each day until we built up the stamina to take one-hour personalized lessons. The coaching was EXCELLENT. Shawn, Jimmy and Tony were tremendous: patient, skillful and, most importantly, they pitched the instruction exactly at the level that we needed as frightfully unfit novices to the game. We have returned home and have started playing tennis regularly. We intend to keep it up and will return for refreshers next year! The kitchen staff was also wonderful. Alejandro and Lee knew my morning routine of 2 bags of the delightful Novu green and mint teas with extra water. They brought it without prompting from the second day. The made to order omlets, smoked salmon and fresh fruit and juices were perfect. The front desk staff were also attentive, competent and warm. Special thanks to Cheryl for her ready assistance always. If you’re looking for excellent value in a resort where adults and kids can play tennis or golf all day long with other activities like bike rides through the resort, relaxing in the pools and firming up in a well-appointed fitness centre, I’d give Saddlebrook my highest recommendation.
HM
Very friendly, excellent instruction. Incorporate a video tape section into the class so that you get a chance to see what you’re doing and then talk through ways to improve.
SK
I just did three full days in SaddleBrook, mid July. And the instruction was very good. It was extremely hot, so July may not be the best time to go, unless you are in super shape, or need to benefit from the lower rates. In addition, this time of year was understandably slow, so my first day, there were 8 players in total, the next about 13, and the last about 16. However, this did not really impact me, it was just a surprise. My group work was with Oscar, and I must have hit 5,000 balls. I took a private with Steve, that was exceptional. The accomodations are a bit dated, although acceptable. The meal plans of breakfast or lunch are not helpful, because the morning session begins at 7:50, and the afternoon at 1, so, there is no chance to really enjoy either meal. In sum, if you want to be run ragged for 5 hours a day, this is your place, just be judicious about when you go. I rented a car, and went to a Rays game, a few movies and off “campus” to eat. There is very little to do at the resort.
JH
I can’t say enough about Saddlebrook’s tennis program. After a week’s worth of five hour clinics per day, our games improved tremendously. Since there were five of us, there were different needs. The staff quickly evaluated the proper level for each of us so that not a minute was lost. Howard, the tennis director, was very efficient and inspiring. He set the tone everyday. Unfortunately, one morning our girls were with an intern instructor that did not work well with them. When I brought this to Howard’s attention, he said he would take care of the problem immediately…and that he did. The girls received the higher level of correction they wanted. Howard checked back with me to see how things were going for the girls. He remained attentive all week long. When one of our adult sons requested more intensity, Howard took him on himself. As for the following days, there was no let up! Our son’s game took on a whole new life after that. Steve was my instructor 90% of the days. Since I had stopped playing tennis some years ago and was reentering the sport, he dissected every aspect of my game and began rebuilding. He was unusually good at communication on this level and made all of the hot sweaty work fun. If you want a push, ask for Steve. One thing we all agree on in my family is that we don’t want to waste time with lots of long breaks. It was great to see a tennis resort that helps us get the most for our money by only taking necessary and short breaks. On the whole, if you like a place that responds to your needs, Saddlebrook is it. As with any program, there are some things to work on. A couple of the pros were not demanding, and then the clinic degenerated into mostly ordinary practice time as opposed to learning with time to practice. I suggest the player ask for a switch. It will happen. The other thing that needs work is that they need to offer bananas every day out there!!
MC
Best instrucional experience hands down. Staff are educated, helpful and concerned with making sure you improve your game. Howard and his staff will improve your game. They have wonderful facilities for the entire family. I told them I needed help with backhand and everyone communicated to make sure I left with a new backhand stroke that will allow me to play at the next club level. Hopman tennis program is outstanding.
JH
I just finished my 2nd trip to Saddlebrook…and I will come back again and again. My 1st visit was with friends, and this most recent trip I made alone. The tennis program is fantastic for adults. You’re on court with others at a similar level and you get 5 hours a day of great instruction and play. I’ve been lucky enough to be on Steve’s court both times I’ve attended Saddlebrook and he is a great instructor. He’s full of insight and humor and made me work very hard. The sweat was pouring off me after just 5 minutes of the one-on-one session I had with him and I could see the huge improvement in my game right away. As a 4.5-5.0 player, I spend quite a bit of time with tennis pros, but Steve noticed things that other pros had never mentioned nor seen…this guy is good. The entire facility is lovely (including the pool, spa, the grounds, and the poolside cafe). Howard runs a great junior program, and the entire staff was taking good care of everyone in the program. Even the other players on my court commented on how much they loved Saddlebrook. As a bonus, I got to see John Isner and James Blake training for Wimbledon on the grass courts. What a fantastic treat for me. I’m a huge tennis fan and seeing these players hit balls was a blast. I will be back again!
VC
I have nothing but the highest regard for the professionals at the Saddlebrook tennis camp. Five hours of drills a day in the Florida sun can be tough, but each day went quickly under the guidance of these professionals. I knew from past visits to Saddlebrooke that the staff would be genuinely dedicated to improving my game – which is why I would never go anywhere else. I was nevertheless pleasantly surprised when these professionals demonstrated the same dedication to improving my wife’s tennis game, as she is only a beginner. She was initially anxious about attending Saddlebrooke because of her lack of skill, but the staff simultaneously put her at ease and drilled her hard enough to show results in her game. Howard Moore runs an exception camp. We especially enjoyed Howard’s daily morning demonstrations, which were always informative. Our thanks as well to Vlad, with whom we spent most of our week at Saddlebrooke, and the other enthusiastic professionals at Howards’s fine camp. We will return next season as well, for sure ….
DS
Top quality instructors. They quickly assessed areas needing work and then work we did! Repetition was stressed. I came home with several new techniques to improve my strokes.
CM
I was fortunate to have Steve as an instructor and he helped my game immensely. He would continuously correct us after each stroke. There’s nothing better than critique immediately after doing something, either good or bad. I really learned well that way. When I returned home to play, I could hear him saying “Stay low” or some other helpful advice during my shots. I saw an immediate improvement in my game. Also, the drills he had us do were great, especially for working on different aspects of the game and keeping it fun. The time went too fast! In addition, the resort is beautiful; a highly recommended experience. I can’t wait to return again!
MS
This has been our third time attending the tennis camp program at Saddlebrook and it has been excellent vacation and tennis instruction. It has always been a relaxing vacation and excellent tennis instruction. All the pros seem to be patient and knowledgeable with improving your game in the basics of the game. And the bigger the group there, the more likely to be matched with equivalent skill levels. The service was always good and nice to stay on one large property without having to go anywhere. We also have sent our son there previously and his game improved greatly as well.
SW
First trip to Sadddlebrook for tennis camp. I am a newby to tennis, 3 months, and a bit older than the other participants (63). Steve was our instructor and he did a great job. The resort is spectacular, the staff amazing and the accommodations, wow is all I can say. Only suggestion, might want to separate out a little more as I was with two very young, atheletic ladies and I felt I might have held them back. Steve did a good job at pushing us all to our limits….my limits just came sooner than the young ladies. We will return and I would definitely suggest this camp to others.
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732 Reviews on “Saddlebrook Resort”
Great experience at5day adult camp. 3 to 1 or less pro to student ratio. Pro kept returning to what I wanted to work on and due to his patience and persistence the “lightbulb” finally went on. Good matching of player levels. Thanks Mike M. This place is all about high class tennis instruction. I hope to return next year.
Everything is truly excellent: tremendous teaching led by Howard Moore, who seems born to do this. Each time our family goes (at least six times now) all of us are re-energized and excited about our improvement. Terrific atmosphere–and it doesn’t hurt that the poolside area is very relaxing and first-class after a rigorous day on the courts!
Planned to spend 9 days on the court, injury cut it down to 6, the staff were very accommodating and flexible regarding the injury. My entire court time was spent with Tai, a very accomplished player and coach. Any request was incorporated into the sessions. The sessions were fun and grueling – just what I expected from the Hopman camp.
Just returned from 8 days at Saddlebrook….5 full days in the adult camp. The 2 pros I worked with were exceptional…Steve Getchell for 4 days, and Tai for one day. Both had many yrs. of experience, and provided lots of good technical advice; we did drills I hadn’t done before, and I hit a ton of balls. As a 4.5/5.0 player that’s what I was looking for. I’m looking forward to returning again, and hoping to work with the same pros. Can’t comment on the lodging as we stayed in a friend’s house on Saddlebrook’s grounds. The Spa, pool, and restaurants there though were excellent. I’d highly recommend a visit to Saddlebrook.
Howard Moore is enthusiastic & genuinely concerned with the development of all players while John Fitts (former vanderbilt coach) provided excellent drills & instruction. Great experience for me, a fomer tennis coach!
Outstanding place to go for an intensive tennis learning experience. By and large, the instructors are all very good at teaching and playing tennis, and find different ways of working on your tennis issues. Nice strething program, which is entertaining, followed by 3 hours of 4:1 student instructor at most, sometimes you may be the only one. Students are put together by abilities, but if things are not working, or you dont mesh with the style of your instructor, Howard, the head honcho is very quick at making comfortable reassignments.
Afternoon is another two hours, should you choose and is made in part of fun competitive playing out of points. There are a variety of court surfaces, and sometime you can play on grass. There are some high ranked touring pros around for you to see as well. A great experience.
The resort is very nice, with a large pool and decent restaraunts at the resort and in the vicinity. Room that I stayed in a few times was very comfortable. Well worth travelling from California. If you are a gluton for punishment, they have a very good golf training facility as well.
We just returned from a family trip to Saddlebrook. We have two boys that we enrolled in the all day tennis program. Not being a big tennis player myself, I thought I might just take one private lesson. Well…….Scott Brown my private instructor was so fantastic that I think I should give tennis another shot. He has the perfect sense of when to really push and when to be a little kind to a 45 year old tennis novice.
In as far as the program that Howard runs all day, all I can say is WOW! Not many 5 hour a day tennis programs can make 12 year old boys ask when we might return to Saddlebrook, Enroll your kids and they will love it!!
the 5 day tennis program was excellent. The pros who conducted the training were first rate including Mark M, Steve Brady, Sean and Tony. The head of the program Howard oversaw the program and did an excellent job in selecting his trainers. We plan on going again.
Lots of tennis and lots of fun! By the way, great coaching as one says!
Strengths: Howard and Staff! Clay courts, cutting edge instruction, hours on court, great setting/ food/accommodations/spa. Weaknesses: Game matching at the 4.5/5.0 level can be erratic.
This tennis “boot camp” is a dream for serious tennis lovers looking to improve their game at any level. The coaching is personalized and does not condescend or pamper. I started with everyone else at 7:50am for a 10 minute warm-up, and from then on, for the next three hours, we drilled, drilled drilled. Not for the faint of heart, but for the more ambitious, goal oriented. Good way to start 2012.
I am a 5.0 tennis player in my 30s. As a young dad I don’t have a lot of time to play. I came with a friend for a chance to play a lot and perfect my shots. We had a blast! Shawn was an amazing teacher. It was demanding enough but still fun. The resort is great and the pool is gorgeous. We already want to come back!
Great for working your strokes, getting ready for the next season. Very professional pros. Keeps you moving and interested. My experience was that I was not challenged enough, and needed to move to another group.
Saddlebrook is the best adult tennis camp in South Florida. The pros are excellent and really help you understand the mechanics of your strokes in detail. The are relentless in keeping on your technique, which I really appreciate. I’m a 3.5/4.0 player and take yearly tennis vacations there and I always ask for Steve Getchell, he’s great.
We have just returned from a 12 day stay at Saddlebrook Resort. Our son is a competitive junior player and participated in the Hopman Program which runs every day, 5 hours a day. The program exceeded our expectations. The over site and organization by the Director and staff was incredible and the coaching was amazing. The groups were very small, never more than 3-4 player, (sometimes 2), to a coach. The players were very closely matched so that they had great drills and match play. They always knew what was going on with each player, an incredible feat, and checked in with each player frequently.
My son made us book a return trip this spring before we even left the resort. The hospitality throughout the entire resort was wonderful, they all worked very hard to make sure we had a delightful stay. We certainly did and we will be back!!
Saddlebrook was unbelievably wonderful. The tennis instruction was superb and its youth program is the standard that other places attempt to equal.
I attended a 2 day adult tennis camp. Tai Lam was my instructor. The experience was incredible. Tai is a very knowledgeable instructor with a great attention to detail. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to take their tennis game to another level.
Just returned from our first trip to Saddlebrook. Already planning our next! Myself (3.0) my husband (4.5) and our 6 yr old son were there Monday – Friday.
My son did the Quickstart program from 8-10am and then enjoyed the Kids Camp. They swam 2 of the three days (cool temps) played video games, did crafts, watched movies, and made new friends.
My husband and I participated in 3 full days of tennis. He learned a lot from Dave and Darren. Was pleased with the level of players he was matched with. I enjoyed my groupings, but wished there was more focus on singles strategies than doubles. Tony was an excellent instructor who pushed me, but at the same time was encouraging. The highlight of my trip was my daily private lesson with Scott. He quickly “cleaned up” my forehand, and later had a “eureka” moment with my serve.
Definitely enjoy the breakfast buffet – I found lots of healthy choices that helped fuel my 3 hour morning session~lots of fresh ripe fruit, and my favorite, steel cut oatmeal. Dinner was limited to Dempseys Too. There they had a top end menu and a lounge menu. Servers were helpful in finding food choices for us. In fact EVERY single waiter/waitress was friendly, going out of their way to make our dining experience enjoyable.
Disagree with reviewers who thought the level of exertion was extremely high. Have been to clinics that involved much more strenuous drills. Another camp we attended had people picking up balls so there was no interruption in tennis time Saddlebrook had more down time picking up balls. Fellow adult “campers” were all friendly. I can’t wait to go back to my club tomorrow and put what I learned in to action. THANKS Saddlebrook for a wonderful vacation!!
I’ve been to Saddlebrook six times over the last three years and what I like most about Saddlebrook is the combination of relaxing setting and rigorous tennis instruction. After the tennis staff works you bone tired for five hours nothing feels better than recovering in the hot tubs and cool swimming pools under the palm trees and being attended to by the bar staff running back and forth for drinks.
Compared to the other Florida tennis camps, (I’ve also been to IMG twice), Saddlebrook is overall more enjoyable because of the setting and staff. The people working at Saddlebrook know we are there to improve our tennis but also have a pleasant time. The attitude of both tennis and resort staff is unsurpassed in my experience. No one ever says “no” there. Whatever you want, you got it. They are flexible to changing schedules and injuries and if it happens to rain they hand you a rain check good for a year. You will want to go back if you go to Saddlebrook. You will also become a better tennis player.
Great instruction, Vlad the ‘Improver’, excellent coach. Food options very limited, overpriced and mediocre. Friendly staff.
Had such a great experience at the Saddlebrook Resort & Spa. The tennis instructors were fabulous, accommodating and additive to my game. Very experienced.
Tennis camp (5 hrs/day) and accommodations and meals were all excellent! Going back in February!
A friend & I flew down for a girls’ weekend of tennis – arrived Friday eve & left Sunday night. Too cold for a northern tennis camp & just a quick jump to Tampa from NYC.
The tennis – excellent. Seems to be low season right before the holidays so there weren’t many in attendance (December 11th & 12th). Weather was perfect for tennis – a bit cloudy so that you weren’t dying from heat.
Day one we had Emmanuel as our pro for the two of us – 3 hours in the morn & 2 hours in the afternoon. During the morning, Sean came by & took videos of us & gave fantastic advice, including pointing out my dead left arm during my forehands – which absolutely no instructor had ever noticed or pointed out. He gave clear, excellent advice on what we were doing, and then worked with us on the court to implement changes. Both my serve & forehand immediately improved. Emmanuel was excellent (and a great guy too!) & continued to drill us & reinforce what we had learned & needed to work on.
On day two, we started the day with a pro to ourselves again – Matt worked with us again reinforcing what we needed to work on & taking us through drills & playing against each other. In the afternoon, we each did a bit of one-on-one with Matt, while the other joined pro Larry & another student to work on doubles strategy. We spent the last hour focusing on doubles strategy & practicing this on the court (we play doubles at home). Larry was incredibly knowledgeable & had endless tips, & was a blast to work with. Throughout the weekend, all instructors were on us to ensure we kept fixing what we were already shown, as well as continue to improve.
Howard was always checking up on us to make sure we were happy & learning, and to see what else we would want to focus on. He also used his eagle eye to spot other issues we might be having and to immediately come over & help us adjust.
I could go on & on, but overall, this was an excellent tennis program – as well as an enjoyable two days. They really work to meet your expectations – whether it’s a relaxed lesson, or more technical, or more strategy.
The rooms – fabulous! We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite which was wonderful. A bit dated in one bathroom for some reason (striped wallpaper?) but everything else was great. The restaurants were all good. As others have said, a bit expensive for their steaks, but then being from NYC, nothing that shocked us. Excellent lunches!
The staff – wonderful on & off the tennis courts! Seriously terrific! The spa – I had a wonderful facial & my friend had a special manicure. We were both thrilled with the treatments & staff who went out of their way to accommodate us (thank you Ashley). The location – absolutely lovely – you had no idea you had just gotten off a highway.
Pro-shop – excellent selection of clothes, but limited number of sports bras (Small or XL) – which my friend needed but wasn’t the size.
We would definitely recommend Saddlebrook for a weekend or more (although quite a few students were local & would stop by just for the morning or day).
Strengths:
First class resort: the food, from the pool bar to Dempseys is delicious. One of the better steaks I have had this year, great fish and healthy options. Rooms are clean, spacious, new TVs and carpets. Spa was incredible, massages varied and relaxing.
Great coaches! Steve and Tony especially were first rate. Incredible tennis knowledge, ability to diagnose and instruct as well as all around cool guys.
Student/coach ratio was never more than 4:1 and for most of my five day program, it was 3:1.
Court availability, private lesson bookings were never an issue. Lots of surfaces to choose from.
Weakness: expensive, especially the steak house, private lessons and spa
I came to the camp with 3 Friends for Shawn. He was great. great instruction. I highly recommend going. the accomadations were very good. food at Dempseys for dinner was over the top. the breakfast Buffet as well.
Flew there w/5 other gals for a birthday celebration. Easy to get to from the airport. All the staff are very friendly but have to give a plug to 2 very professional, positive pros (Sean & Tony)who gave great individual video evaluation and kept the drills fun and challenging. Food’s great & nearby mall (www.theshopsatwiregrass.com) is a nice plus. 2 Golf courses are well groomed & challenging. The rooms are in need of updating but very pleasant. Seems like they are always working on improving the resort.
Weakness- If you don’t play tennis or golf,there’s not a lot of options, there’s an ok spa but no yoga or fitness classes. I’m personally looking forward to going back.
Saddlebrook Tennis is the tennis mecca! Howard and his well-qualified, exceptional, hard-working team of Pros (we especially enjoyed Vlad, Scott, and Larry) take a personal interest in every player at Saddlebrook. No matter what your level of play, you will receive incredible instruction (4 to 1 student to teacher ratio), exercise and be entertained! The Har-Tru courts are in superb condition and are gentle on knees and feet, and make for challenging but fun spin on the ball.
The spa services, pool, and hot tub help revive you for the next day’s instruction. You’ll meet other tennis enthusiasts from all over the world. You can have private lessons, use the ball machine, pick up matches and watch young Pros and juniors hit and workout. If you love tennis, you will love Saddlebrook. It is simply the best and they work hard to earn that distinction.
This was my third time at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy and I can’t wait to go back – it’s always great, and when I’ve brought friends they love it too! Steve is amazing – will make you a better player for sure and he’s so much fun. Scott will run you all over with incredible amounts of support! Some coaches will break down and fix your strokes, others will work you till you drop and Howard will make sure you are on the court that fits your dreams.
Nothing is a problem – Saddlebrook aims to please. The people that go there are always fun, the resort is beautiful and the accommodations are relaxing; the spa is super and the service is out of this world! Cannot recommend enough!
My wife and I spent a week at Saddlebrook Tennis and took one hour private lessons on a daily basis. Our instructor, Scott Brown, was recommended by Howard Moore, head of Tennis at Saddlebrook. Scott reviewed all aspects of our game – forehand, backhand, serve, volley, passing shots and strategy. We improved from Scott’s coaching and would highly recommend both the resort and Scott. We did not notice any weaknesses to report.
The Hopman Tennis program at Saddlebrook is excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their game, learn new techniques, and play with a great group of folks while being taught by some of the best there is in Tennis. I enjoyed every bit of it. The coaching staff is very friendly and are extremely experienced. They took time to addreess issues I had with my game and I left a better player just after 3 days of play than when I had come in. I know what to keep working on and improve. This was my first time there and I will be going there again much sooner than later. I have also tried a tennis camp in Boston, MA but I have to say that this was exceptional.
This is my 22nd time at Saddlebrook Hopman tennis. It is the best program, although the most intense, in the US. One of the strengths of this program is that the teaching staff works with your current strokes to improve your game, rather than make drastic changes. My game continues to improve year after year. I can’t wait to go back.
I had a great experience at Saddlebrook. I was definitely pushed to my physical limits, while fine tuning my game. Steve was my coach for the 4 days that I was there. He was great at pushing each person in the group to their potential and providing individual attention as needed. Howard, the Director, was very accomodating and was eager to make sure that my goals were met.. He arranged for me to hit with Daren and Mark on separate occassions to work on singles strategy. -Totally awesome experience. The only weakness for the resort is the food which I would rate as marginal, and inconsistent with the high cost.
Great coaching and staff. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I stayed over a weekend and was extremely impressed how accomodating the team were, they got players for me to play with and even remembered me from my last visit 6 months ago. I never had more than 1 other person on the court with me and left feeling as if I got the same treatment as James Blake or John Isner. I have been to a number of camps and Saddlebrook tops the list! Highly recommended!
Second visit to Saddlebrook for me. This year, I brought a friend a mine, and happily everything I told her about my previous trip turned out to be true, if not better. The biggest strenght about Saddlebrook is the teaching. Pros are the best and they really deliver that they promise : i.e. 5 hours of excellent teaching with a ratio of 4 students per pro.
The facilities are awesome. The only downside is perhaps not enough options for eating and the fact that the room service menu is not as good as the year before ( way less items to choose from). A forgot to mention the Spa. Receiving a massage is sometimes a luxury, but not after 15 hours of tennis in 3 days. In other words, I strongly recommend that you pay a visit to the Spa. You will also appreciate the super confortable mattresses and luxury bedding. I can’t wait to return.
We had an amazing time. Great family vacation. Tennis pros were great.
Just returned from fabulous tennis at Saddlebrook. The camp is hard core…and I loved every minute of intruction! Coaches take time to video tape you on the courts and then review with you. Coaches gave good directions to improve technique. Everyone on staff offered good tips. I felt that nobody would give up on me! I am a 3.0-3.5 player and felt comfortable on the courts with everyone. They call it “tennis boot camp”! If you love playing tennis sign up for both morning and afternoon, this is the place to be!! Will return soon!!
Excellent experience, excellent instruction.
Very nice tennis resort. Perfect organization competent and friendly staff. I had amazing 5 1/2 training days that I will never forget. Special thanks to the fantastic coach Mark Magone who have very goo eyes and is able to provide lot’s of hints in order to improve my tennis. COngratulations, very good job! I will be back as soon as I can.
I had the excellent opportunity to visit Saddlebrook this fall. I’m a 4.0 USTA computer rated player who’s stopped taking lessons/drills as I feel I’ve become overly familiar with the typical mantras of tennis. I came with the intent of developing a topspin backhand (one-handed). I was pretty satisfied with my FH prior to my trip feeling I really couldn’t improve it much without doing something drastic.
I found their teaching style to be excellent and while I heard some of the same tennis phrases, what clicked with me was they took great care to illustrate the modifications they suggested. They were also very friendly and willing to discuss why they made one suggestion over another. For example on the BH grip they helped show me how a modification would allow me to hit a cleaner shot without requiring so precise a timing. For someone who’s more analytical, these explanations really help to solidify the changes. Ironically I also realized that I really can improve my FH and make it a whole lot stronger.
As an aside when I first started playing tennis I noted the teachers would often come over and physically adjust our grips or swing paths; for some reason as I’ve gotten better this has become less common as the teaching becomes more verbal. I was pleasantly surprised to see the pros make these kind of physical adjustments here. Some people learn well verbally but others learn from a combination of visual and kinesthetic cues. The other thing that I thought was neat was one pro came over to my side of the court and tossed the ball as opposed to feeding from across the net. It really gives a great deal of attention to your stroke and helps establish the contact point. Finally they will have someone come out and make a short videotape your strokes; again this is a useful learning tool particularly for visual learners.
I had signed up for three full days of tennis. Based on what I had done in other sorts of camps, I didn’t expect it to be quite as challenging. Next time, I will sign up for just the morning. I realize now that in most other programs they have warm up, cool down, changing courts, chalk time, stories, etc. At Saddlebrook, you are actually drilling the entire 3 hours on the same court. Picking up the tennis balls is your main rest! The warmup is actually scheduled 10 minutes before the drills. Cooldown is on your own after the drills. There were no monologues of the Bryan Brothers or Harry Hopman. In fact, on the third day I finally asked them about the Hopman method since I didn’t want to leave without hearing about it. If you haven’t been drilling like a junior player, stick to the half day sessions.
I never got to take advantage of the free court time or match play as I was exhausted. I came here solo so I could crash into a deep sleep at 8. Again next time I’d just limit myself to the morning especially if I bring my wife and kids along. Speaking of families, I’m not sure how entertained non-tennis or non-golf spouses and kids would be here. Disney is a fair distance away. The main road around the resort has a lot of construction and looks to just have strip malls. There is a big swimming pool but how many days can they play in a pool?
I was also impressed by how well they accommodated different levels of players. There were some better than I and they felt challenged and stimulated. On another court there were a group of women who mainly wanted to work on doubles and it looked like they had a great time. The most we had were 3 on a court; usually there were 2 and once there was just one (I). I had a different pro each day but found them all to be great. There was fortunately no contradictory teaching though some pros will pick apart or emphasize different portions of your game.
The resort boasts having all 4 grand slam surfaced; we played on har-tru courts (similar to clay). I feel this is good for the wear and tear but I suppose there are some people who can’t stand the surface. They don’t have indoor courts but the clay courts are playable within 30 minutes of a shower. I think they have a raincheck policy if you do get rained out though I never had to use it.
I’d recommend bringing 1-2 extra shirts to account for the humidity. I also broke strings on two of my three racquets. The tennis shop though is well stocked and I was able to get my racquets strung in a day and purchase another dry-fit shirt. The resort restaurants have sufficient variety even I as a vegetarian felt content to remain “on base” for all my meals. It’s been over a week since I left. First thing I noticed was my timing on hard courts is way off. Second thing was that my one handed topspin BH feels very natural and didn’t disappear. I think as I adjust to my regular courts I will see similar benefits in my FH. Al in all it was a very satisfying tennis experience. I hope to return again in 6-9 months to have them work on my strokes. I’d highly recommend this program especially for those of you who feel you have plateaued.
Our summer 2010 stay at Saddlebrook was the best value vacation we have ever had. We will certainly be back next summer though we have never in the past returned to a vacation spot, preferring to try new places.
My husband and I initially selected Saddlebrook because it offered tennis camps for our 9 year-old son, while offering a resort setting that we could enjoy as a family. It was a superb choice. Our son was fully engaged in his daily tennis routine, taking the on-site shuttle back and forth between our suite and the courts.
On the second day, my husband and I tried out the half hour tennis clinic as it was included in the Summer Special. We loved it so much, we did the morning and afternoon half clinics each day until we built up the stamina to take one-hour personalized lessons. The coaching was EXCELLENT. Shawn, Jimmy and Tony were tremendous: patient, skillful and, most importantly, they pitched the instruction exactly at the level that we needed as frightfully unfit novices to the game. We have returned home and have started playing tennis regularly. We intend to keep it up and will return for refreshers next year!
The kitchen staff was also wonderful. Alejandro and Lee knew my morning routine of 2 bags of the delightful Novu green and mint teas with extra water. They brought it without prompting from the second day. The made to order omlets, smoked salmon and fresh fruit and juices were perfect. The front desk staff were also attentive, competent and warm. Special thanks to Cheryl for her ready assistance always.
If you’re looking for excellent value in a resort where adults and kids can play tennis or golf all day long with other activities like bike rides through the resort, relaxing in the pools and firming up in a well-appointed fitness centre, I’d give Saddlebrook my highest recommendation.
Very friendly, excellent instruction. Incorporate a video tape section into the class so that you get a chance to see what you’re doing and then talk through ways to improve.
I just did three full days in SaddleBrook, mid July. And the instruction was very good. It was extremely hot, so July may not be the best time to go, unless you are in super shape, or need to benefit from the lower rates. In addition, this time of year was understandably slow, so my first day, there were 8 players in total, the next about 13, and the last about 16. However, this did not really impact me, it was just a surprise. My group work was with Oscar, and I must have hit 5,000 balls. I took a private with Steve, that was exceptional.
The accomodations are a bit dated, although acceptable. The meal plans of breakfast or lunch are not helpful, because the morning session begins at 7:50, and the afternoon at 1, so, there is no chance to really enjoy either meal.
In sum, if you want to be run ragged for 5 hours a day, this is your place, just be judicious about when you go. I rented a car, and went to a Rays game, a few movies and off “campus” to eat. There is very little to do at the resort.
I can’t say enough about Saddlebrook’s tennis program. After a week’s worth of five hour clinics per day, our games improved tremendously. Since there were five of us, there were different needs. The staff quickly evaluated the proper level for each of us so that not a minute was lost. Howard, the tennis director, was very efficient and inspiring. He set the tone everyday.
Unfortunately, one morning our girls were with an intern instructor that did not work well with them. When I brought this to Howard’s attention, he said he would take care of the problem immediately…and that he did. The girls received the higher level of correction they wanted. Howard checked back with me to see how things were going for the girls. He remained attentive all week long. When one of our adult sons requested more intensity, Howard took him on himself. As for the following days, there was no let up! Our son’s game took on a whole new life after that. Steve was my instructor 90% of the days. Since I had stopped playing tennis some years ago and was reentering the sport, he dissected every aspect of my game and began rebuilding. He was unusually good at communication on this level and made all of the hot sweaty work fun. If you want a push, ask for Steve. One thing we all agree on in my family is that we don’t want to waste time with lots of long breaks.
It was great to see a tennis resort that helps us get the most for our money by only taking necessary and short breaks. On the whole, if you like a place that responds to your needs, Saddlebrook is it. As with any program, there are some things to work on. A couple of the pros were not demanding, and then the clinic degenerated into mostly ordinary practice time as opposed to learning with time to practice. I suggest the player ask for a switch. It will happen. The other thing that needs work is that they need to offer bananas every day out there!!
Best instrucional experience hands down. Staff are educated, helpful and concerned with making sure you improve your game. Howard and his staff will improve your game. They have wonderful facilities for the entire family. I told them I needed help with backhand and everyone communicated to make sure I left with a new backhand stroke that will allow me to play at the next club level. Hopman tennis program is outstanding.
I just finished my 2nd trip to Saddlebrook…and I will come back again and again. My 1st visit was with friends, and this most recent trip I made alone. The tennis program is fantastic for adults. You’re on court with others at a similar level and you get 5 hours a day of great instruction and play. I’ve been lucky enough to be on Steve’s court both times I’ve attended Saddlebrook and he is a great instructor. He’s full of insight and humor and made me work very hard. The sweat was pouring off me after just 5 minutes of the one-on-one session I had with him and I could see the huge improvement in my game right away. As a 4.5-5.0 player, I spend quite a bit of time with tennis pros, but Steve noticed things that other pros had never mentioned nor seen…this guy is good. The entire facility is lovely (including the pool, spa, the grounds, and the poolside cafe). Howard runs a great junior program, and the entire staff was taking good care of everyone in the program. Even the other players on my court commented on how much they loved Saddlebrook. As a bonus, I got to see John Isner and James Blake training for Wimbledon on the grass courts. What a fantastic treat for me. I’m a huge tennis fan and seeing these players hit balls was a blast. I will be back again!
I have nothing but the highest regard for the professionals at the Saddlebrook tennis camp. Five hours of drills a day in the Florida sun can be tough, but each day went quickly under the guidance of these professionals. I knew from past visits to Saddlebrooke that the staff would be genuinely dedicated to improving my game – which is why I would never go anywhere else.
I was nevertheless pleasantly surprised when these professionals demonstrated the same dedication to improving my wife’s tennis game, as she is only a beginner. She was initially anxious about attending Saddlebrooke because of her lack of skill, but the staff simultaneously put her at ease and drilled her hard enough to show results in her game.
Howard Moore runs an exception camp. We especially enjoyed Howard’s daily morning demonstrations, which were always informative. Our thanks as well to Vlad, with whom we spent most of our week at Saddlebrooke, and the other enthusiastic professionals at Howards’s fine camp. We will return next season as well, for sure ….
Top quality instructors. They quickly assessed areas needing work and then work we did! Repetition was stressed. I came home with several new techniques to improve my strokes.
I was fortunate to have Steve as an instructor and he helped my game immensely. He would continuously correct us after each stroke. There’s nothing better than critique immediately after doing something, either good or bad. I really learned well that way. When I returned home to play, I could hear him saying “Stay low” or some other helpful advice during my shots. I saw an immediate improvement in my game. Also, the drills he had us do were great, especially for working on different aspects of the game and keeping it fun. The time went too fast! In addition, the resort is beautiful; a highly recommended experience. I can’t wait to return again!
This has been our third time attending the tennis camp program at Saddlebrook and it has been excellent vacation and tennis instruction. It has always been a relaxing vacation and excellent tennis instruction. All the pros seem to be patient and knowledgeable with improving your game in the basics of the game. And the bigger the group there, the more likely to be matched with equivalent skill levels. The service was always good and nice to stay on one large property without having to go anywhere. We also have sent our son there previously and his game improved greatly as well.
First trip to Sadddlebrook for tennis camp. I am a newby to tennis, 3 months, and a bit older than the other participants (63). Steve was our instructor and he did a great job. The resort is spectacular, the staff amazing and the accommodations, wow is all I can say. Only suggestion, might want to separate out a little more as I was with two very young, atheletic ladies and I felt I might have held them back. Steve did a good job at pushing us all to our limits….my limits just came sooner than the young ladies. We will return and I would definitely suggest this camp to others.