Inside IMG Academy’s Adult Tennis Camp in Bradenton: A Tennis Lover’s Dream Getaway

I can play tennis. I grew up the youngest of six kids, and when I was number one on my high school team and later number three on my college team, I was still fourth-ranked in my own family. Make no mistake, tennis is in my DNA and I still play any chance I get. But invariably, I develop lazy techniques and need a tune-up.

Eat, Sleep, Tennis, Repeat

Enter the IMG Academy Adult Tennis Camp in Bradenton, Florida. This is the same tennis mecca begun by the late tennis coaching legend Nick Bollettieri. He bought a 40-acre tomato field in 1978, and now it is a massive 600-acre campus comprising 20 sports. IMG Academy bought from Nick in 1987. Ten former number one players have trained there, from Andre Agassi to Serena Williams. It is legendary.

I first attended the adult tennis academy 32 years ago and have come back several times since. I always love my time on that campus. It is clean, safe, and there is positive energy in the air.

Life on the IMG Campus

My wife, Erin, and I checked into the five-floor Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy, where we enjoyed three meals a day in the lobby restaurant and easy access to the courts. There are 58 courts on a variety of surfaces.

We had six adults in our class, mostly professionals from all over the country: an ER doctor from Texas, a PhD engineering professor from Virginia, and a money manager from Manhattan. We made new friendships as we bonded over our mutual love of tennis.

The program is run by two excellent instructors who have worked together for more than 20 years, Roger and Jonathan. They both know tennis and are excellent at diagnosing issues.

Lessons That Stuck

They taught me:

• To dip my racquet head and get below the ball before making impact.
• The importance of tossing with a straight arm, “like it is in a cast,” and standing tall and hitting up on the serve.
• The value of keeping a loose arm and twisting the entire body for each shot, advice reinforced when Jimmy Arias, IMG Academy’s director of player development and a former number five player in the world, visited our class. He is credited with revolutionizing the modern forehand and showed us exactly why that movement matters. Watch the short video from the session.

We had several days of clinics, two-hour sessions, twice a day with great meals in between. There were also discussions on nutrition and the power of self-talk. There are a number of packages from which to choose. Details are available at IMGAcademy.com.

Already Planning the Return Trip

We had an excellent experience: helpful lessons, healthy food, and interesting people. I am already looking forward to going back next year.

Ray Collins is a Sarasota-based travel writer with 200 published stories. He is the on-court announcer for several pro and junior tennis events on the Gulf Coast of Florida, including the Sarasota Open. Details are available at RayCollinsMedia.com.

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