The digital video of my strokes begins with footage of Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Andy Roddick as examples of the "modern game." I'd first seen this video on a laptop on court immediately after it had been shot, but now I'm viewing it on my home computer via a link in an email sent after I'd left. There's a voiceover by Roger Blackburn, the pro who shot the video, analyzing my strokes and pointing out the improvements needed to make them more effective. As part of championing the modern game, the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy has also adopted modern technology to enhance its teaching.

I've attended the Bollettieri adult academy more than half a dozen times over the last 20+ years. I've seen it evolve from an afterthought to a well-oiled program enhanced by upscale lodging and limited on-site dining. On my most recent visit, the curriculum was better organized than ever.

Tennis Features

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Traditionally, adults have attended this academy because they wanted their own version of the program the legendary coach Nick Bollettieri has long used to train aspiring juniors. That is still a reason to come. You can spend the day doing many of the same drills the 270 or so wannabe tennis kids who live here do while they dream of making the pro tour—or, more realistically, obtaining a college scholarship. But given that the pros and serious juniors have broadened their training to embrace strength and fitness training, the Bollettieri academy decided to offer adults the opportunity to take stock of their whole game, going beyond strokes to learn what they can do physically and mentally to play better. So the academy now supplements its basic 5-plus-hour-a-day adult camps with an optional "Pro Max Performance" program that addresses every aspect of the game, from technique and tactics to fitness, mental toughness, nutrition, and more. What hasn't changed is the demanding regimen, which makes this one of truly hard-core boot camps on the planet.
"Our program is more stroke technique and drills than playing," says director Chip Brooks, who took over the adult program in 1994 after 17 years of working with the Bollettieri juniors and traveling with pros, Boris Becker among them. "Our philosophy is we want to work within your style. If you look at all the players on the tour out there, they hit the ball in lots of different ways but there are some things everyone does, like preparation and recovery, so that's what we stress in our teaching." That and the "modern game."
"The buzz now with adults is the modern game," Brooks notes, adding that it's what they've been teaching for 15 years. "When adults hear that, they think they have to change their grip; but they don't. It's just stance and preparation." The Bollettieri adult academy also adopts an approach called "System 5," which divides the court into five zones from deep behind the baseline to the net and then looks at how you alter your strokes and game depending on where you are on court.
On my last visit, there were four of us on court with Moroccan-born Mohammed Chaouqi: a Russian, whose daughter is in the junior program and who himself comes for weeks at a time; a New York City dermatologist; an Atlantan; and me. Chaouqi began by feeding a series of forehands to us on the baseline, and it was not long before he began to chastise us for walking rather than running to the end of the line. Throughout the morning he wove no-nonsense critiques of repeated errors with reminders about technique ("Load up on that right leg, Roger," he often told me as we worked on open-stance forehands). The drills were fast-paced, at times to the point of testing our endurance (the Russian, still on a distant time zone, occasionally held up his hand and stopped, having had enough). We took breaks for water and to pick up balls.
The routine was repeated in the afternoon, though we lost the Atlantan, who'd opted for half days, so there were more two-on-one drills and and some playing situations. Although normally you have a different pro each session, we ended up with Chaouqi again. Toward the end of the day, each of us was subjected to a classic "kamikaze drill" as Chaouqi stood just inside the baseline and hand-tossed balls right and left forcing us to hit a forehand, quickly recover and scamper left for a backhand and back the other way, a series that went on for 20 or 30 balls at a time.
At different times, each of us was pulled off the court individually to be videoed, then sent back with a visual image of what we need to be doing. "The people who come down know they are going to get a good workout," Brooks says, "and our staff genuinely cares about helping them improve."

Tennis Programs. Although the Academy offers half-day and single-day options, it makes sense to set aside at least three days in order to work on all aspects of your game. If you do, you'll have two options: the "Mini Week" and the "Pro Max Performance"

• Mini Week: This program begins each morning with half an hour of dynamic stretching following by 2½ hours of intensive work primarily on technical skills and footwork, focusing on a different cluster of shots each day. Then after lunch, the sessions address offense and defense, specialty shots, and tactics. At 4 p.m. when the sessions end, the courts are available for free play and matches.
• Pro Max Performance: Available in 3-day and 5-day modules, the Pro Max program includes the same on-court work as the regular adult program but adds daily ½-hour private lessons; an in-depth assessment of your speed, strength and agility and a workout program to improve weaknesses conducted by the professional staff of the academy's International Performance Institute; a sports psychology session using a videotaped match to assess your mental strengths and weaknesses; sports massages; and three meals daily in the clubhouse.

Courts & Fees. There are 56 courts at the Academy (35 hard, 17 clay courts and 4 indoor courts). Court fees: None.
Caveat: Don't underestimate the demands of a 5-hour-a-day program. (When's the last time you played for five hours let alone drilled?) 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.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

• ""—J.F., Int., February 2008

• "I've been to The Bollettieri Tennis Academy five times in the last 2 years, and loved every minute of it. The first time, I purchased a 5-day Pro Max package, and after that visit I came for 3 days and used ala carte pricing for massages & privates.
  I'm a 4.5 ladies singles player, and found the level of instruction to be exceptionally high. Much is made of it being physically demanding, and, it's true, it's definitely physical; however, if you're in moderate to good shape it's not overwhelming. Most impressive to me is the pros' willingness to adapt the program to the whims of its guests ... All of them have gone out of their way to pair me with good players, set up matches, and work on my nemesis issues. It's also very inspiring to watch the high-level juniors, and pros, train if they're on site. It's like a fantasy camp for the tennis addict.
  I hope I get the opportunity to go every 6 months until I'm too old to grip a racquet! I also appreciate having on-site PT services -- a must for the adult player."—K.Q., Adv. Int., February 2008

• "Loved it. Taught me an open stance on forehand and backhand and encouraged learning to hit left-handed to improve my two-handed backhand. It was the single thing I have done to improve my game in one huge leap. I came alone and met people -- went out with some in the evenings. Hands down more intense than Kiawah and The Colony, although I loved both for vacation."—V.D., Adv. Int., February 2008

• "If you're looking to hit thousands of balls this is the camp for adults. Mainly all drills and some play. Most player were at good levels. Between 3.5 to 4.5 You must be in good shape !!
  The food was good and people are friendly. I would not recommend for more than 3 days. unless you are in super shape and enjoy hitting a lot of balls ! Also, nice to see how the kids are in their program and from all parts of the world."—J.W., Adv., January 2008

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Other Recreation

The Bollettieri Tennis Academy is in fact one of seven IMG Academies taking place as this 190-acre Bradenton site. The other six, all of them for juniors, focus on golf, soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, and hockey. All have on-site facilities.

Spa & Fitness Center. The International Performance Institute at IMG Academies contains a vast array of fitness and workout equipment but its purpose is much broader. The IPI is a professional training center that focuses on enhancing athletic performance, not only for those who attend the various academies but also for professional athletes from a variety of sports. There is also a sports medicine center, which has state-of-the-art equipment for rehabilitation and offers a variety of massages. Early in 2007, IMG Academies will open a 4,000-square-foot Aveda spa, offering health and beauty treatments.

And ... The Bollettieri Academy also has a second, much smaller adult fitness center and clubhouse overlooking the tennis courts. It has lockers, showers, a few pieces of fitness equipment, massage rooms, and a small lounge with a television and DVD player.

Lodging

The once spartan lodging at the Academy has been replaced by a series of brand-new 2- and 3-bedroom condominiums with kitchens. The second or third bedrooms can be rented separately, and every bedroom has its own flat-screen plasma television, coffee maker, in-room safe, and free high-speed Internet access. All are a short distance from the main clubhouse, which has a small swimming pool and outdoor Jacuzzi.
Alternatively, you you have a broad choice of places to bed down locally, including several near the Bradenton airport. IMG Academies also has special rates for participants at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

Restaurants

The adult dining room in the main clubhouse serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, all buffet style. They formed an alliance with Beach Bistro, a well-regarded restaurant on Anna Maria Island in Bradenton, to come up with the menus, which are further tweaked by their nutritionist. Dinner entrees may include filet mignon, swordfish, sea bass, steak with mushrooms. Wine or beer is available with dinner. The desk in the clubhouse has a long list of local restaurants, complete with driving directions.

See Also

If you're looking for a demanding camp, one that will have you on court from much of the day, also check out the following:

• Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman) at Saddlebrook Resort, Florida
• Academia Sanchez-Casal Adult Camp at Naples Tennis Club & Resort, Florida
• The John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
• New England Tennis Holidays, New Hampshire Summer only
• Nike Amherst Tennis Camp, Massachusetts Summer only
• Swarthmore Tennis Camps, Pennsylvania Summer only
• Sweet Briar College/Van der Meer Tennis, Virginia Summer only
• Total Tennis, New York

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Year-round; however, many adults scale back to a half-day program in summer.

Rates.

Bollettieri Tennis Academy
5500 34th St. W.
Bradenton, FL 34210
941-752-2600
Toll-free: 800-872-6425
Fax: 941-752-2531
Web Link: Bollettieri Tennis Academy

Internet Rates! Lodging elsewhere in Bradenton/Sarasota. Check For Internet Specials

Travel Instructions. The nearest airport is Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ), 6 miles away.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at P.O. Box 1000, Bradenton, FL 34206-1000; phone (941) 729-9177.

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