Nick Saviano Tennis Academy

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

I'd like to know what Macci charges per hour but, I honestly have no idea. I've heard some absolutely insane fees. Anyone know?

chalk....last time I heard Rick was up to $300/hour! His academy is less expensive on a per hour basis but you get other instructors and the occasional Macci attention. I notice kids like Sonya Kenin leave Macci after a year or so....the costs must just eat up the parents.

But Macci also gives away a ton on his videos through the USTA and on Tennis Resource. A clever parent can provide almost Macci like lessons by studying all his videos.

[dannythomas]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

chalk....last time I heard Rick was up to $300/hour! His academy is less expensive on a per hour basis but you get other instructors and the occasional Macci attention. I notice kids like Sonya Kenin leave Macci after a year or so....the costs must just eat up the parents.

But Macci also gives away a ton on his videos through the USTA and on Tennis Resource. A clever parent can provide almost Macci like lessons by studying all his videos.

For younger kids I would still go with Rick's Academy ( the other coaches are fine ), they will have more fun which is important for them and our experience of Saviano is that Nick does not get too involved with the younger ones leaving them to his other coaches. I suggest half hour lessons with Rick is fine for younger kids as they are intense and as I said in another thread he also involves his kids as " the other player " when he is doing 1 :1 including strategy and points play.
But I am not doing down Nick's Academy,it is a great place for older kids and Nick is a top coach for them. Isn't Nick around $200 ? And as you say his Academy costs more.

[drakulie]

If you really want the best coaching in the area contact Diego at Xtreme Tennis Academy. He is in Hollywood, Florida.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by drakulie

If you really want the best coaching in the area contact Diego at Xtreme Tennis Academy. He is in Hollywood, Florida.

1. The website has been disabled.

2. Macci has worked with Roddick, Pierce, Capriati, and the Williams sisters as kids. Saviano has a nice body of work, including Sloane Stephens. Nick B. has worked with just a few folks who have done okay!

Perhaps you could list the players Diego has trained that would make him the "best" coach in Florida?

[drakulie]

^^^Uhmmm, I didn't say "Florida". I said in the "area".

I know who all those coaches are and have witnessed each one coach and/or sit on their *** while someone else does the work/coaching for them, so don't need a lecture from you of their history, and includes the Evert academy (both of them). I actually live at the Lauderdale Tennis Club where The Harold Solomon Academy is housed. You know who Solomon is right??? You know, a much better player, with just as much, if not bigger resume in coaching than everyone you mentioned.

I'll take Solomon over any of the guys you noted, and take Diego over Solomon. Period.

It's my opinion based on watching each one of the coaches you mentioned having someone else do the coaching for them, while Diego doesn't. Neither does Solomon.


edit: one more thing>>>> Nick B. hasn't *PRODUCED* one damn player in his entire career...... Someone else has, and he has been given the credit by people like you, who have no idea what you are talking about.

[dannythomas]

You are completely wrong. Rick Macci coaches all his top kids himself. There may be an issue with the cost but not with his coaching expertise or commitment.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by dannythomas

You are completely wrong. Rick Macci coaches all his top kids himself. There may be an issue with the cost but not with his coaching expertise or commitment.

Uhmmm, I'm not wrong. Macci, who I feel is excellent, does not do what Solomon or Diego do,,,,,,, that is, be on the court for 8 hours and hit/coach with each and every kid in the academy on a daily basis, throughout the course of the entire day.

Further, Nick B. isn't even seen on the court unless it is a "special junior", at which time he just blabbers and doesn't do any of the real coachin. Saviano is much better, but still not in the same league as Solomon or Diego.

[tennis-silver]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

1. The website has been disabled.

2. Macci has worked with Roddick, Pierce, Capriati, and the Williams sisters as kids. Saviano has a nice body of work, including Sloane Stephens. Nick B. has worked with just a few folks who have done okay!

Perhaps you could list the players Diego has trained that would make him the "best" coach in Florida?

Looks like the domain name expired - says it expired May 4, 2010 (thought they gave you 30 days...? )

Bet they don't even know.

[chalkflewup]

$300/hr? Pass. Did Macci teach Roddick how to hit a backhand?

[flat]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

What part of FL? Or does it matter? And how old?

He's 14, boy. He's highly ranked in his section, so so at the national level.

Has a lot of power, so resorts to trying to pound people off the court all the time. So clay court tennis I think would give him some needed frustrations. In addition, he's had some shin splint issues so I figure for extensive training in the summer clay would be better.

Of course, still want a quality academy...else I'll just stay local.

Central FL is preferred, but at this point I'm not too choosy. I'm willing to go down to S. FL. Austin is another choice that would work for me. (my company have offices in Austin & FL, if you are wondering why...). I can afford a decent academy...but I can't afford $300/hr lesssons! So as long as cost is in range with Saddlebrook, that should be fine. I did call Saddlebrook (my first choice) but they say juniors are almost completely on hard courts.

I'll do my own research and calling around. But want to get people's experience on this board as added reference. Thanks in advance.

[FloridaAG]

Frankly I think most academies are primarily hard court. Although Saviano's is at a facility with mostly clay courts, they generally train on the hard courts (with occasional ventures onto the clay).

I believe the same is true for Solomon at LDC, right Drak?

[chalkflewup]

In Central Florida, 2 names come to mind...

Lorenzo Beltraime @ Human Performance Institute in Orlando. Top shelf guy and a great coach.

Richard Schmidt in Winter Park near Orlando. Former USTA coach. Has worked with Kendrick in the past.

Good luck!

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Uhmmm, I'm not wrong. Macci, who I feel is excellent, does not do what Solomon or Diego do,,,,,,, that is, be on the court for 8 hours and hit/coach with each and every kid in the academy on a daily basis, throughout the course of the entire day.

Further, Nick B. isn't even seen on the court unless it is a "special junior", at which time he just blabbers and doesn't do any of the real coachin. Saviano is much better, but still not in the same league as Solomon or Diego.

Total nonsense. I have watched Macci and Saviano and Nick B. work. I have seen them all impart boat loads of knowledge to the kids.

Of course kids are not made by one guy. But a Macci provided the fundamentals to many future greats. Name the ones who credit Diego Dominguez for starting them on the right road? List the pros and top D-1 players that credit Diego??

Anyone can say a coach is great....show us his results so we can judge for ourselves. You know the guy so you think he is the cats meow.....name his success stories.

Success leads to word of mouth and tons of students....old Diego can't even keep his website active!

[dannythomas]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Uhmmm, I'm not wrong. Macci, who I feel is excellent, does not do what Solomon or Diego do,,,,,,, that is, be on the court for 8 hours and hit/coach with each and every kid in the academy on a daily basis, throughout the course of the entire day.

Further, Nick B. isn't even seen on the court unless it is a "special junior", at which time he just blabbers and doesn't do any of the real coachin. Saviano is much better, but still not in the same league as Solomon or Diego.

That is different from what you said before. Rick does not leave the coaching to his assistants . I agree he does not work out on a group basis with all the kids, but he works one on one with any of his kids whose families can afford it ! Whether it's better to do half hour or one hour lessons one on one or spend time working in a group as you say Solomon or Diego do is a matter of opinion. My own is that younger kids need more one on one time working on technique and that is what he gives them. But he is out there on court every day and the fact that he is booked solid says it all. A figurehead like Nick B he is certainly not but then he is still a lot younger than Nick !

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by FloridaAG

Frankly I think most academies are primarily hard court. Although Saviano's is at a facility with mostly clay courts, they generally train on the hard courts (with occasional ventures onto the clay).

I believe the same is true for Solomon at LDC, right Drak?

Solomon teaches on 3 clay, and 2 hard courts.

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

Total nonsense. I have watched Macci and Saviano and Nick B. work. I have seen them all impart boat loads of knowledge to the kids.

Yeah. OK.

I've seen Mary do the same. You know who she is?? A regular run of the mill teaching pro. The same type of coach that can be found in any tennis park in the world.

You have your opinion, I have mine, and based on THE FACT that Macci, Saviano, or Bolleteri (who shouldn't even be in the discussion), don't stay on the court all day with their kids hitting with them and teaching each one personally for 8 hours a day, I'll take Diego or Solomon. And between those two, I'll take diego.

But hey, if you want to send your kid to macci, sav, or nick and pay a boatload of money to have someone other than those guys teach your kid, then be my guest.

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by dannythomas

That is different from what you said before.

No it's not, unless you have reading comprehension problems.

Originally Posted by dannythomas

Rick does not leave the coaching to his assistants . I agree he does not work out on a group basis with all the kids, but he works one on one with any of his kids whose families can afford it ! Whether it's better to do half hour or one hour lessons one on one or spend time working in a group as you say Solomon or Diego do is a matter of opinion.

I guess you do have reading comprehension problems. Go back and read my posts. I made it clear Diego and Solomon provide coaching with each and every kid in their academies individually, as opposed to the others who leave the teaching to someone else. They (Diego/Solomon) are also hitting/drilling with every kid while providing instruction.

[dannythomas]

Originally Posted by drakulie

No it's not, unless you have reading comprehension problems.




I guess you do have reading comprehension problems. Go back and read my posts. I made it clear Diego and Solomon provide coaching with each and every kid in their academies individually, as opposed to the others who leave the teaching to someone else. They (Diego/Solomon) are also hitting/drilling with every kid while providing instruction.

You are now just repeating the incorrect statement you made before. Rick Macci does not leave the individual coaching to others. He is available to anyone who wants him. I don't know the size of the 2 Academies you mention but let's suppose there are 40 kids of different ages and ability levels and the Academies run for 6 hours daily. How much 1 on 1 time with Solomon .can the kids get every day ? The format you are suggesting would work for a small group of 10 players but not for much more than that. If that is what they have then great , I am sure the kids get the individual attention they need.
As I have said several times Macci specialises in giving very young kids their foundations and he does that by working with them 1 on 1. He does not drill in groups - the kids do that in his Academy with his assistants. But nearly all the families who send their kids to his Academy do so by booking Rick for x number of individual hours per week - that is how he runs his programs and it works in his particular Academy.
Whether or not Solomon and Diego run their Academies better I have no idea since I haven't seen them. Again I reiterate that for the younger kids the Macci format works well and those are the ones he focuses on most. The academies I have seen - Evert, Saviano and Bolliterri may work fine for older kids ( Saviano has a very good program ) but for the younger ones Macci in my opinion offers more.
So no, I don't think I am having comprehension issues, I just don't agree with you. Or you with me which is fine too.

[chalkflewup]

IF you want to spend $300 an hour. I just hope he didn't teach Roddick how to hit a backhand!

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by dannythomas

You are now just repeating the incorrect statement you made before.

Hmmmm, see your own post below, which is what I've been saying repeatedly:

Originally Posted by dannythomas

As I have said several times Macci specialises in giving very young kids their foundations and he does that by working with them 1 on 1. He does not drill in groups - the kids do that in his Academy with his assistants.

Thanks for confirming what I have already said.

Like I said, Solomon and Diego DO NOT LEAVE LEAVE THIS TO THEIR ASSISTANTS. THEY DO IT THEMSELVES.

In addition, also provide one one one throughout the course of an entire 8+ hour day to EVERY student, not just select ones who pay a little more.

[dannythomas]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Hmmmm, see your own post below, which is what I've been saying repeatedly:



Thanks for confirming what I have already said.

Like I said, Solomon and Diego DO NOT LEAVE LEAVE THIS TO THEIR ASSISTANTS. THEY DO IT THEMSELVES.

In addition, also provide one one one throughout the course of an entire 8+ hour day to EVERY student, not just select ones who pay a little more.

No - the individual lessons are given by RM. The group drilling and fitness is done by his assistants though he sets the drills . He is doing individual lessons all day every day so he cannot do both at the same time. He does pull the other kids from the Academy to play points and rally with the kids doing lessons. I quite agree with you about the cost but that is how it is. Maybe the USTA should do something with all the millions they make from the Open to give coaching grants to kids who want to play with the top coaches ( not necessarily the USTA ones ) but cannot afford it.
You did not answer my question about how many students Solomon and Diego have on an average day.