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Ramey Tennis Schools

Owensboro, Kentucky

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By Roger Cox, Editor

A USPTA Master Professional, Joan Ramey has been running her camp at the Ramey Sports Center, amid farms and orchards in a country setting three miles outside Owensboro, Kentucky, for more than 40 years. She is the first to admit that hers is a no-frills approach, focused instead on the quality of the instruction. "What you will find are certified instructors who are determined to help you refine your game the Ramey way: biomechanical video evaluation, bone-grinding drills, and lots of blood sweat and tears," she says. "And because there are no short cuts, you won’t find any tricky stuff here. Just solid instruction designed to make lasting improvements in your game."

The Sports Center, which is also home to an equestrian school, is down to three hard courts, after Ramey sold her indoor center and greatly reduced the number of camps she offers (see the schedule below). Adults stay in a hotel in Owensboro or in a condo-cottage or bed-and-breakfast, 20 minutes away at the Ramey Riding Stables. The group program runs on selected weekends in spring.

NOTE: Before each meal, Ramey gathers the campers and leads them in prayer. noting on her website that you have the option of remaining outside until that's over if you prefer not to take part.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 270-570-3054

See Also

For comparison's sake, also take a look at:

• John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
• Peter Kaplan's Westhampton Beach Tennis Academy, New York
• Sherri Stephens Adult Tennis Camp, California
• Total Tennis, New York

Rates and Reservations

The Ramey School runs 2- and 3-day camps on selected dates year round.  Rates include tennis instruction, meals, and lodging. Housing is either at the Hampton Inn in Owensboro or in the Bed & Breakfast Lodge on the Ramey Riding Stables Property 20 minutes away. See the website for exact details and lodging rates.

Ramey Tennis Schools
5931 State Rte. 56
Owensboro, KY 42301

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Selected weekends in spring.

General Tourist Information. For general information about travel to Kentucky, visit the Kentucky Department of Travel website or contact them toll-free at 800-225-8747.

Advertiser

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Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Ramey Tennis Schools.

• "This camp is just as advertized. Tough! Outstanding instructor with no nonsence aproach to the game. Ms Ramey is a christian lady who makes no bones about it. She is not only a great instructor but a fantastic hostess and cook. She does it all.
  If there is a fault I expect it is mine. I was sent a questionare about what I expected to accomplish. I did little thinking about my goals and as a result we put in quiet a bit of time on areas I was not really interested in. So, I suggest anyone attending really think through and write down their goals so Ms Ramey understands your goals."—A.B., Int., November 2011

• ""—J.W., Adv. Int., October 2011

• "If you want a no nonsense guide to improving your game Ramey is the place for you. My 13 year old son and I recently attended and both our games improved greatly due to the the instruction and tough work outs Mrs. Ramey provided."—S.T., Int., July 2011

• "I've taken tennis lessons before I went to Mrs. Ramey's tennis school, and I've never gotten the kind of instruction that Mrs. Ramey gives. She coaches you in a way that is based on form rather than just hitting the ball in the court, and this instruction really takes your game to the next level and can improve every aspect of your game."—E.B., Low Int., June 2011

• "Last week I had 3days tennis camp at Ramey Tennis School.It was Memorial Day weekend and I was the only one sign up for this camp and ms.Ramey was so nice, she gave me three days Privet camp.I was so glad I did it.She is amazing teacher,with a lot of knowledge and patient.She recognized my mistakes and new how to fix it.I levied in her Lodge.It is not luxury,but very pleasant with beautiful surroundings.
  Ms.Ramey show me a lot of interesting things around, but most important it was tennis lessons that gave me so much.I am so glade we have so good teachers like ms.Ramey.If somebody to learn real need tennis it is plaice to go."—N.D., Int., June 2011

• "This is a great facility for a tough workout. You will work 7-8 hours each day hitting lots and lots of balls. Joan is tough on working you hard. This is not for the weak at heart. She will tell it just like it is. Be ready to make some changes if they are needed. The value for the tennis time received is excellent. A speciality of this place is the southern hospitality. Joan is a gracious hostess and a great teacher."—T.W., Adv. Int., April 2011

• ""—J.S.,  April 2011

• "I highly recommend Ramey Tennis Camp if you are looking for 1) great tennis instruction, and 2) a camp where you work hard on your game. I would discourage anyone who is 1) looking for 'resort' type of facilities, and/or 2) are in love with your current strokes.
  Key to this camp is that Joan will not sugar-coat telling you what is wrong with your current strokes, and she'll demand that you take steps to change.
  I've been to many various tennis camps, and this is by far my #1 recommended camp FOR TENNIS IMPROVEMENT. Other camps work on incremental changes, but Joan sets you on a course for major fundamental changes. In my my case her instruction has had huge impact on my development.
  There is so much on-court time with her camps that it really does give you an opportunity to repetitively drill the changes you're working on. But, when you come to Ramey, be prepared to work and work hard! When you leave, you'll certainly know that you were at a camp and not a resort."—L.T., Adv. Int., April 2011

• ""—J.M., Adv., April 2011

• "Ramey Tennis Camp is for people that really want to work hard and improve their tennis. Ms. Ramey is definitely one of the best instructors in this country and her aim is to help you so you will leave a better tennis player. She is also a wonderful, giving individual that teaches tennis because she loves it, not for a big profit. It is not a resort or spa but a very reasonable priced camp where your total focus is tennis. I highly recommend this camp if you want to improve your technique and understand the game at a higher level.  "—L.L., Int., January 2011

• "This is an exceptional camp. Based solely upon the potential to improve one's game (reflected in the justifiably high marks others have given this camp for "tennis overall", "tennis staff", "tennis instruction" and "dollar value") I simply cannot imagine a better four day experience at any price point.
  Each day at the Ramey Tennis Camp involves roughly eight hours of on-court instruction. My camp had one trainer (Ms. Ramey) instructing a total of three students. Lunch separates two three hour sessions with a final two hours concluding the day. Ms. Ramey usually dedicates most of the first two daily session to work on a specific stoke (ground, volleys, serve/serve return, ect), leaving the late afternoons and evenings for match play or work on an issue of the student's choosing.
  Ms. Ramey typically begins each stoke analysis session with commentary and a short demonstration on its proper form. For advanced students, her instruction emphasizes balance, footwork, elongating the strike zone and moving forwards following contact. She then closely observes and comments upon students' attempt to replicate each detail of the model stroke in play with a ball machine or another student/invited hitting partner.
  The latter is what makes this camp special. Ms. Ramey has over 40 years of coaching experience; in her prime she simultaneously oversaw roughly ten separate camp sites in the United States and Europe as well as mentored a handful of professional players. This experience was clearly evident in the speed and detail in which she utterly deconstructed every aspects of my stoke technique. The nuance of her feedback to me, for example, included: “your grip is too tight during your load (on your backhand)”; “you are opening your hips a fraction too soon (on your backhand)”; “you are moving your head slightly to the left (on your forehand volley); “you need to lift your hips” (on your serve). In a lifetime of play, I have received many thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of tennis instruction hours from other excellent coaches. And in any given fifteen minutes under Ms. Ramey’s oversight I received at least five specific game improvement comments I have never heard. I was impressed.
  Ms. Ramey has clearly prioritized cost value over creature comforts in the experience she offers. Other reviewers have accurately remarked upon the resulting wear upon the camp facilities. I personally did not find this detrimental to my experience; moreover, camp Ramey’s superb value (I paid $900 for all meals, 5 nights lodging and 32 hours of instruction) will allow me to afford a quick return to this wonderful camp."—J.W., Adv., January 2011

• "Ramey's tennis school is a great experience if you are seeking to improve your tennis skills. I went into the the school somewhat skeptic of getting better but I came out much better than when I came in and very impressed and pleased with the results. It is definitely worth the time and the money."—S.J., Low Int., November 2010

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