Why You Should Go to Tennis Camp

Heard about tennis camp? Maybe your regular tennis partner has been raving about them, and you've noticed his more consistent strokes and wondered - how'd he improve so fast? Maybe you're nostalgic for the carefree days of youth, and wish to relive the camp experience all over again. Or, just like the average tennis player, nothing could be better than hitting on the courts for hours on end. Your idea of nirvana. If you're toying with the idea and are somewhat undecided, let me help convince you. Here are the reasons why you should attend tennis camp.

Apply a quick fix

A loopy forehand. Erratic backhand. Puffy second serves. Backhand volleys gone awry. The list of what potentially ails each tennis player's game is long, and despite long hours practicing and spending on tennis lessons, your weekly tennis match with your friend Bob ended in the same result, 6-3 6-2, in his favor. AGAIN.

Although the mantra "practice makes perfect" is often quoted, it actually doesn't make sense. For example, you could hit thousands of forehands over and over, but if the technique is incorrect, then game improvement will not follow. I speak from experience, as the instructors at tennis camp videotaped my forehand, deconstructed its elements, and pinpointed the mechanical mistakes I was making that resulted in me hitting the forehand late and too close to my body. As they say, the video never lies.

Moreover, since I stayed for a few days at tennis camp, the instructors and I were able to work on this stroke on a continuous basis, thus increasing the odds that I would be able to implement the changes they've recommended and incorporate them into my tennis matches. Contrast this with how much progress I would've made with working with a tennis pro only once a week.

Grass is not just for cows

The temperamental Russian player Marat Safin famously once declared "Grass is for cows" to explain his reluctance to play on this surface. That might be the case, but for us hackers who've watched Roger Federer deal with unpredictable bounces on the grass at Wimbledon, or Rafael Nadal slide gracefully on the red clay at Roland Garros, playing on these surfaces is an exciting prospect especially for those accustomed to hard courts.

The majority of courts at a typical tennis camp are hard and clay surfaces, with one or two grass courts (artificial or otherwise) thrown in. Tennis campers are usually rotated among different surfaces so as to provide an opportunity to experience the subtle differences on how the sport is played, and to face the challenge of making adjustments to their strokes and tactics on-the-fly based on game situations.

I still recall my first time playing on a grass court at Saddlebrook tennis camp in Florida. It made for an extremely entertaining doubles match, not for the quality of tennis played but for the hilarity that ensued from everyone's inexperience on handling the tricky surface. Returns were swung at and balls completely whiffed, players slipped and landed on their behinds as they tried to switch directions, and wicked drop shots flailed at as they bounced low and died on the grass. The tricky masters of slice were the ones grinning broadly that day.

Be gentle with your approach

A typical hitting session with a friend goes like this: Start the warm-up with forehands and backhands, go up to net for some volleys and overheads, then practice hitting a few serves. Then it's on to selecting "P" or "D", and playing a couple of sets. Sound familiar? What's wrong with that?!

Believe it or not, there are other tennis shots that we use during matches but rarely practice. Approach shots, for example. I can't recall ever practicing them, but thankfully was given ample chances to sharpen them during the drills at tennis camp - a typical one involved hitting a forehand, followed by an approach shot, then finished off by split stepping and volleying at net. At first I struggled and hit most approach shots into the net or way long, but once the coaches gave me pointers on shortening the backswing and hitting across the body, I noticed the gradual improvement over the next few sessions. In addition, I learnt to follow the ball as I rushed the net for the volley. Definitely it made me become more conscious of practicing shots I normally neglect to, like overheads and drop shots.

Birds of the same feather flock together

Well, anyone who comes to tennis camp knows some serious court time will be required. Depending on which tennis camp, it will be five to six hours of non-stop drills and doubles play that will hopefully improve your strokes and strategy. Most campers can't get enough and proceed to log more hours on the courts hitting after the grueling sessions. After all that hard work, it's nice to sit around, enjoy a cold beer, and talk about...what else? Tennis! I've found that tennis campers in general are a knowledgeable crowd who enjoy discussing their favorite tennis players and playing experiences back home.

My last tennis camp experience coincided with the Wimbledon championships, and it was quite common to see people whip out their Blackberries to check the latest scores the moment the sessions ended. On the last day, at lunchtime the buzz was all about the Wimbledon mens finals match in progress. Most of the campers sat enthralled as the fifth set rolled on, with each player's serve seemingly unbreakable. 7-7. 11-11. The scores continued their ascent, with each service hold greeted by cheers from that player's supporters.

When finally Roger Federer converted on match point to win a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam major, everyone applauded both his achievement and the amazing spectacle we just witnessed. Then off we scurried to the courts for the afternoon session. Which were supposed to have started ten minutes ago.

Mixed doubles, anyone?

Ok, so NOW we get to the REAL reason behind attending tennis camp. Finding a life partner who shares your hobbies is always a plus. What better place to meet a potential love match than among your fellow tennis campers? Striking up a conversation shouldn't be a problem - you can flatter them on how smooth/powerful their forehand/backhand/serve is (sincere compliments work best), inquire about their favorite tennis players, or comment on their brand-new outfit - which you just happened to notice shows off their toned physique and superb tan.

Believe it or not, the pressure of winning on the tennis court brings out a person's true personality. Among the attractive women I was eyeing was Amy, who seemed pleasant enough when I met her at the wine and cheese tasting. We agreed to play doubles with an older married couple once the afternoon sessions finished. We vastly underestimated our opponents who proved tougher than expected and before we knew what happened, they had taken the first set, 6-3.

Amy's demeanor shifted dramatically as we tried to rally in the second set. Her cherubic smile was replaced by a deep frown and pursed lips when I botched a put-away volley. As our opponents applied the pressure at the net, our tandem's errors piled up. Enduring Amy's dagger looks and unsolicited pointers came to an end when my backhand passing shot went an inch wide off the sideline to hand them the victory. Amy whacked the ball into the adjacent courts and left in a huff.

The lesson? Like all partnerships, make sure your personalities mesh, or your heated exchanges won't be limited to reflex volleys at the net.