tennisdad13
New User
It was our first time at the Rick Macci academy, and we were there for a week long spring break camp. This is a smaller academy compared to Evert or Bollettieri, and that factors into its uniqueness.
Before I booked the camp, I spoke to Macci. In fact an impressive fact about the academy is that every call is answered not by the front desk, but by Macci himself. I spoke to him about our experiences at other academies, where all players are huddled into groups based on their skill levels and kept busy with drills and workout sessions by pros who have no connection to the players. I have not been particularly impressed by these camps since the instructions and play level rarely exceeds what you see in tennis clubs across the country. Macci assured me that they limit the number of players and individual attention is paid to each playr, and I booked a spot 5 months in advance.
The first thing I noticed at the camp was the high pro-to-student ratio. There have been times when I saw a single pro for as much as 10 players during play drills, though the ratio was generally kept around 5 or 6. There is only so much attention a player can get when the ratio is that high. Being a smaller academy, they have fewer courts for match play, so the emphasis was on group drills and physical fitness. Parents of full time players told me that the ratio gets skewed during school break periods, and is better during regular school weeks. If I return, it will be only during off-peak months.
We were unfortunate to lose some sessions due to rain. But even when some dry courts were available, the academy decided to hold private lessons for a few and keep the rest busy with fitness training, rather than provide court time to the entire group. Macci himself was always present at the academy, but rarely stepped out of the court where he gives private lessons and never appeared at the group lessons.
In spite of high pro-player ratio, pros did try to keep some level personal connection with the kids. This appealed to my son; that he wasn't just a face in the crowd. They knew his name, and called out his corrections, and tried to pay attention though he isn't an advanced player. He gained the most from a terrific private session with Leo, one of the best pros I have ever seen. Leo made significant corrections to forehand, backhand and serve in a single session. This lesson was the highlight of our trip.
At $1200 a week, the Macci academy is considerably pricier than most other academies. Pros strive to pay individual attention, and are held back only by high player ratio and crowded facilities due to limitless enrollment by the academy. If the number of players are kept manageable, beginners and intermediate-advanced can highly benefit from it.
Before I booked the camp, I spoke to Macci. In fact an impressive fact about the academy is that every call is answered not by the front desk, but by Macci himself. I spoke to him about our experiences at other academies, where all players are huddled into groups based on their skill levels and kept busy with drills and workout sessions by pros who have no connection to the players. I have not been particularly impressed by these camps since the instructions and play level rarely exceeds what you see in tennis clubs across the country. Macci assured me that they limit the number of players and individual attention is paid to each playr, and I booked a spot 5 months in advance.
The first thing I noticed at the camp was the high pro-to-student ratio. There have been times when I saw a single pro for as much as 10 players during play drills, though the ratio was generally kept around 5 or 6. There is only so much attention a player can get when the ratio is that high. Being a smaller academy, they have fewer courts for match play, so the emphasis was on group drills and physical fitness. Parents of full time players told me that the ratio gets skewed during school break periods, and is better during regular school weeks. If I return, it will be only during off-peak months.
We were unfortunate to lose some sessions due to rain. But even when some dry courts were available, the academy decided to hold private lessons for a few and keep the rest busy with fitness training, rather than provide court time to the entire group. Macci himself was always present at the academy, but rarely stepped out of the court where he gives private lessons and never appeared at the group lessons.
In spite of high pro-player ratio, pros did try to keep some level personal connection with the kids. This appealed to my son; that he wasn't just a face in the crowd. They knew his name, and called out his corrections, and tried to pay attention though he isn't an advanced player. He gained the most from a terrific private session with Leo, one of the best pros I have ever seen. Leo made significant corrections to forehand, backhand and serve in a single session. This lesson was the highlight of our trip.
At $1200 a week, the Macci academy is considerably pricier than most other academies. Pros strive to pay individual attention, and are held back only by high player ratio and crowded facilities due to limitless enrollment by the academy. If the number of players are kept manageable, beginners and intermediate-advanced can highly benefit from it.
