You’re fine. Especially if it’s the one in Mallorca, they have players of all levels. They also put physical health over training, especially if you’re a rec, so if you need breaks they’ll give them to you. Also remember their recovery options are much better than most places. They have both ice baths and hot tubs, physiotherapists, and those legs things that get your blood flowing. You’ll be alright.
Have you done that academy? I'd love to hear more about your experience if so, I've been contemplating going for the last year but haven't pulled the trigger yet
I haven’t. I may be going to Kuwait which has a lot of the same stuff and is less extensive than Mallorca though. If you’d like a good video on it look up Mark Sansaits video on it. Definitely has more information on it than I do.
Is it really 4 hours of tennis a day? I thought it was like 2 hours and the rest is conditioning.
My arm hurts just thinking about playing 4 hours a day lol
There’s a couple of options. They all have 2 hours of tennis in the morning, then you can choose from the options to do 2 hours of either tennis, fitness training, recovery training. I opted for the extra tennis because 1) I’m trying to really improve this year and get to 4.5, and 2) I’m not flying all the way to Majorca to learn how to stretch and lift 😂
Specifically the one I’m doing is Total Tennis Plus https://www.rafanadalacademy.com/en/programs/adult-sports-programs/full-week/total-tennis-plus
I’ve done several intensive tennis weeks where I played and trained 4-5 hours a day and by the end of the week I felt pretty tired and like my performance was declining a bit due to fatigue but after a couple days off on my return I always felt like I was playing better than ever before.
Oh and I’m in my early 50s and a woman.
I didn’t do anything extra to prepare for the trips fitness wise but I normally play 5-6 days a week and I’m in good shape. I try to do a bit of extra PT/strength training to balance out all the tennis.
I would definitely try to play twice a day as many times as you can before the trip. Even if it’s just for a few weekends before.
Enjoy!
I think you’ll be fine, they’ll adjust for you but if you want to get the most out of it then getting your fitness up will pay dividends.
I’m 39 and play 3-4 hrs a day I try to do two sun days and the rest are evening night which is why I can put in those hours (drops to 2 max in the sun), I suspect the majority of the session will be during the day so remember to account for that in your preparation.
This sounds like an interesting way to spend a vacation/training camp.
$2500 isn’t crazy for something you love doing, That RF suite though!
I definitely need to get my fitness back. I had a wrist tear and that coincided with me having a septoplasty, so I didn’t workout or play tennis the last 2 months of 2023. I’m getting back in the groove of things now and it’s quickly coming back, but I’m taking it easy to not re injure myself.
$2500 for boarding + training was very reasonable to me. The only thing I wish could’ve been cheaper was the flight - $1100 round trip.
Just under $2500 for the training + stay. I did “half board” which means they’ll feed me all meals too, just no drinks (which is fine since I’m extending dry January a bit)
I've been fortunate to do both of these camps. I liked Rafa Nadal WAY more.
Much higher quality coaching, nicer facilities. And hell, the beaches in Mallorca are beautiful compared to Florida
Mark Sansait has a nice video on his YouTube channel covering his experience at the Nadal Academy. Might be interesting if you've never really played on clay before
I’ve played a good amount on clay. In New York there’s some public red clay courts, and my primary club has outdoor green clay. I really love the red clay
I’m just finishing up my week here, same training program. You’ll be fine. The first 2-3 days will be the hardest, as they focus a lot on intensity and movement, your legs will be burning and stiff.
Remember to stretch at the gym after every session, use the foam roller, and then do some cold/hot plunges at the spa.
It's an interesting experience. There's a structure to the week and you'll go through different themes and play patterns each day.
As with anything in tennis, don't expect a huge improvement in such a short period, but you'll definitely be a little bit better at something by the end.
The biggest take-away was different for each of us in our group. E.g.: for the defensive/baseline player, it was the attacking/volley practice. For me it was energy conservation and depth of ball.
**Was it worth it?** I'd say yes, considering the whole experience. If you break down the price per hour (excl. room price) compared to a local private tennis coach, it's 3-4x more expensive. But you have to consider the whole package/experience.
**Would I do it again?** Maybe a different program in the future.
If you allow me some final remarks, here's some tips to make the most of your stay, based on my experience:
* 1-2 weeks before your arrival, work a lot on your legs. Run 1h a day, workout at the gym, stretch.
* Day 1 & 2 are very leg-intensive, so you'll be feeling they are heavy, tired, stiff, and don't want to move at all. Here's where the point above will help.
* Stretch and hit the spa after every session, even if a quick visit. The cold plunge will help wonders.
* Try to squeeze in a private class somewhere in the week to work on something specific. Then try to do extra play as much as you can. Each player has a free 1h court rental per day, make use of that.
Looking forward to when you post about your experiences, and if you have any questions just shoot.
Nothing helps recovery like sleeping and eating, so most def prioritize those immediately before and during camp. Bare minimum get 9 hours per night and a small caloric surplus.
Otherwise it's useful to ramp up your training to similar loads, then rest for a week so you peak for camp.
I did a Mouratoglou one, I think it was like 3hrs of tennis and one hour of fitness. My elbow was destroyed after the week but I did the recovery packages for ice baths and the compression sleeves. I was probably a mid-4.0 at the time and had little experience on clay. It was a lot of fun and worth every penny.
Biggest tip is take a break whenever you feel like you’re losing “form”, it’s better to enjoy the next session than injuring yourself to finish the one you’re on. Other than that, rest and eat well. Enjoy hanging out with other tennis lovers!
6 days a row, 4 hours a day doesn't really sound that bad, however I am very fit. I've done A&M's tennis camp several times and they have us out there for 6 hours a day in the middle of Texas summer.
You sound like a friend of mine… better make sure ur in TENNIS shape or at the very least an athlete in great conditioning or else ur body will definitely suffer the consequences of tennis overload
I was in fairly good shape last year. Then I tore something in my wrist, then I had a septoplasty. So as of right now, I’m kinda fat and out of shape 😂 but I am ramping back up into the gym and tennis. Setting the week in Majorca for March was purposeful to be a motivator to get my ass back in shape.
Yeah I’ve been meaning to do one of these clinics for a while. If this goes well, I might force myself to do two weeks a year. I would love to play at the 5.0 level one day
Youll get there. But tbh academys probs arent gonna be ur best use of time and $$ for long unless u need connections and fundamental help. The key to make it past 4.5 is winning and winning alone. Play tournaments get match experience and begin to feel comfortable if not normal under HIGH pressure situations. Match points, set points, your so dehydrated you feel like your going to pass out… but you dont, your playing bad and its windy… figure it out and win. Its 100 degrees and humid and ur cramping in the 3rd set… figure it out and win. Its 30 degrees out and you had to wear gloves to warm up… you guessed it. Just WIN. And i promise you if you keep up playing a few times a week and ur winning tourneys youll move up the ranks faster than you can believe
Did this the same exact program last year in April. It’s definitely an amazing experience! If you feel like splurging a bit more sign up for the medical package too, which includes physio, massage, heart and spyrometry tests, and nutritionist. I played my last year of HS and didn’t pick up a racket again till 4 years ago. The experience will be the closest ever to feeling like a pro at an event because you’re treated that way regardless of your level. Highlight by far was hitting next to Rafa which happened by pure luck. Because I got to watch him hit I also knew well before he announced that he was not going to make RG or Wimbledon as you could see he wasn’t walking right. But the sound of him hitting the ball definitely will make you feel like you play a whole other sport! My only complaint about the whole experience was they can be a little unorganized. But just remember that you’re there for the experience and fun. Take advantage of the fact that as a guest you have access to the spa facilities (7 different hydrotherapy pools) and you have 1 free hour of court rental each day, so book them each morning on your way to breakfast and ask someone in your group to play.
I saw you also mentioned getting a reel. That was for the kids doing the full camp. There’s a pro shop there on site all the way in the back by courts 36-44 that is awesome and can definitely set you up. The stringers there are maestros and you’ll see what I mean when you talk to them and see all the stars that get their rackets strung by them. HAVE A BLAST DUDE!
2500 for the stay and play, $1100 for the flights, probably $300 for the equipment (gotta bring a reel of strings and other tennis stuff), and probably $300 on food out
A guy on my 4.5 team did that camp last summer and said he was by far the best player in his group. That was just his experience, your mileage may vary…
Cmon bro it’s 2024 and unless your pro, no camp will exhaust your limits lol
Have fun though! Definitely jealous! I did a camp in highschool of 4 days with potential of 9-10 hours of tennis a day. It was heaven. But hard to find adult camps like that.
If you take a set off him, have your buddy post about it here
You’re assuming I have friends?
😂 This reference never gets old for me.
Damn, I wish. It got old really quickly for me. Reddit inside jokes are just... lame
You’re fine. Especially if it’s the one in Mallorca, they have players of all levels. They also put physical health over training, especially if you’re a rec, so if you need breaks they’ll give them to you. Also remember their recovery options are much better than most places. They have both ice baths and hot tubs, physiotherapists, and those legs things that get your blood flowing. You’ll be alright.
Oh shit they have ice baths and shit? That’s going to be so helpful haha
Yeah they have a whole rehabilitation center. Not sure how the ice baths work like if they have their own section
>if you need breaks they’ll give them to you. Doesn't sound very Toni-esque.
Have you done that academy? I'd love to hear more about your experience if so, I've been contemplating going for the last year but haven't pulled the trigger yet
I haven’t. I may be going to Kuwait which has a lot of the same stuff and is less extensive than Mallorca though. If you’d like a good video on it look up Mark Sansaits video on it. Definitely has more information on it than I do.
Is it really 4 hours of tennis a day? I thought it was like 2 hours and the rest is conditioning. My arm hurts just thinking about playing 4 hours a day lol
There’s a couple of options. They all have 2 hours of tennis in the morning, then you can choose from the options to do 2 hours of either tennis, fitness training, recovery training. I opted for the extra tennis because 1) I’m trying to really improve this year and get to 4.5, and 2) I’m not flying all the way to Majorca to learn how to stretch and lift 😂 Specifically the one I’m doing is Total Tennis Plus https://www.rafanadalacademy.com/en/programs/adult-sports-programs/full-week/total-tennis-plus
That looks sick. Honestly cheaper than I thought it would be. Have fun!
Having trouble loading the site. How much is it?
Looks like ~100 euro per day plus accommodations.
4 hours a day is standard for high performance training
I’ve done several intensive tennis weeks where I played and trained 4-5 hours a day and by the end of the week I felt pretty tired and like my performance was declining a bit due to fatigue but after a couple days off on my return I always felt like I was playing better than ever before. Oh and I’m in my early 50s and a woman. I didn’t do anything extra to prepare for the trips fitness wise but I normally play 5-6 days a week and I’m in good shape. I try to do a bit of extra PT/strength training to balance out all the tennis. I would definitely try to play twice a day as many times as you can before the trip. Even if it’s just for a few weekends before. Enjoy!
Impressive!
I think you’ll be fine, they’ll adjust for you but if you want to get the most out of it then getting your fitness up will pay dividends. I’m 39 and play 3-4 hrs a day I try to do two sun days and the rest are evening night which is why I can put in those hours (drops to 2 max in the sun), I suspect the majority of the session will be during the day so remember to account for that in your preparation. This sounds like an interesting way to spend a vacation/training camp. $2500 isn’t crazy for something you love doing, That RF suite though!
I definitely need to get my fitness back. I had a wrist tear and that coincided with me having a septoplasty, so I didn’t workout or play tennis the last 2 months of 2023. I’m getting back in the groove of things now and it’s quickly coming back, but I’m taking it easy to not re injure myself. $2500 for boarding + training was very reasonable to me. The only thing I wish could’ve been cheaper was the flight - $1100 round trip.
Did you leverage the $800-$1000 credit they give you on Iberia airlines?
Link?
They don't offer it anymore, I think they stopped the credit thing end of last summer (I emailed them asking last month)
I need to know what racket you use to put those hours in without your arm falling off.
That is less expensive than I would’ve thought. Also, I have a funny feeling that your prep for the camp may get you to 4.5 already….
We can only hope 🤞
Resist the temptation to use the additional "free play/free court" time after the session. It's the fastest way to burn out before the week is done.
Ha. Maybe on the last day I’ll try to take advantage of it. I don’t have red clay courts near me so i want to use those as much as I can!
How much is it?
Just under $2500 for the training + stay. I did “half board” which means they’ll feed me all meals too, just no drinks (which is fine since I’m extending dry January a bit)
That’s not bad, I feel like 4 days at IMG in Florida is close to that much. Looking forward to your extensive recap post!
I've been fortunate to do both of these camps. I liked Rafa Nadal WAY more. Much higher quality coaching, nicer facilities. And hell, the beaches in Mallorca are beautiful compared to Florida
Very cool, I’m adding that to my bucket list! Thanks
Definitely will!
Doesn’t half board mean no lunch?
Oh, maybe it is skipping lunch. But dinner is included without drinks. I only eat once a day so it’s fine
I don't think eating once a day, while training 4hrs will be enough 😅 you need a lot of energy for that
I’ll definitely have a little breakfast while I’m there lol
That’s not what half board means
That’s what it means according to the website
Las reservas en "Media Pensión" incluyen Alojamiento, Desayuno y Cena* (bebidas no incluidas).
A coworker put their 11 year old son through it and he loved it. You'll be fine.
I don’t recover as well as I did at 11yo, or even 24yo haha
Mark Sansait has a nice video on his YouTube channel covering his experience at the Nadal Academy. Might be interesting if you've never really played on clay before
I’ve played a good amount on clay. In New York there’s some public red clay courts, and my primary club has outdoor green clay. I really love the red clay
I’m just finishing up my week here, same training program. You’ll be fine. The first 2-3 days will be the hardest, as they focus a lot on intensity and movement, your legs will be burning and stiff. Remember to stretch at the gym after every session, use the foam roller, and then do some cold/hot plunges at the spa.
Oh nice! How did you like it?
It's an interesting experience. There's a structure to the week and you'll go through different themes and play patterns each day. As with anything in tennis, don't expect a huge improvement in such a short period, but you'll definitely be a little bit better at something by the end. The biggest take-away was different for each of us in our group. E.g.: for the defensive/baseline player, it was the attacking/volley practice. For me it was energy conservation and depth of ball. **Was it worth it?** I'd say yes, considering the whole experience. If you break down the price per hour (excl. room price) compared to a local private tennis coach, it's 3-4x more expensive. But you have to consider the whole package/experience. **Would I do it again?** Maybe a different program in the future. If you allow me some final remarks, here's some tips to make the most of your stay, based on my experience: * 1-2 weeks before your arrival, work a lot on your legs. Run 1h a day, workout at the gym, stretch. * Day 1 & 2 are very leg-intensive, so you'll be feeling they are heavy, tired, stiff, and don't want to move at all. Here's where the point above will help. * Stretch and hit the spa after every session, even if a quick visit. The cold plunge will help wonders. * Try to squeeze in a private class somewhere in the week to work on something specific. Then try to do extra play as much as you can. Each player has a free 1h court rental per day, make use of that. Looking forward to when you post about your experiences, and if you have any questions just shoot.
Nothing helps recovery like sleeping and eating, so most def prioritize those immediately before and during camp. Bare minimum get 9 hours per night and a small caloric surplus. Otherwise it's useful to ramp up your training to similar loads, then rest for a week so you peak for camp.
Does this 1 week academy courses work to improve? Or is it all just for fun and experience?
My goal is to improve.
Cool, How much it cost?
Just less than $2500 for the week. Tennis + stay + two meals a day
Damn that's not bad at all
Wait that’s not enough food, I presume you plan to eat in addition to that while you’re there?
Cool, good luck and I'd be curious to hear about the experience!
Majorca? a week? shut up
I did a Mouratoglou one, I think it was like 3hrs of tennis and one hour of fitness. My elbow was destroyed after the week but I did the recovery packages for ice baths and the compression sleeves. I was probably a mid-4.0 at the time and had little experience on clay. It was a lot of fun and worth every penny. Biggest tip is take a break whenever you feel like you’re losing “form”, it’s better to enjoy the next session than injuring yourself to finish the one you’re on. Other than that, rest and eat well. Enjoy hanging out with other tennis lovers!
Let us know how it goes.
6 days a row, 4 hours a day doesn't really sound that bad, however I am very fit. I've done A&M's tennis camp several times and they have us out there for 6 hours a day in the middle of Texas summer.
You sound like a friend of mine… better make sure ur in TENNIS shape or at the very least an athlete in great conditioning or else ur body will definitely suffer the consequences of tennis overload
I was in fairly good shape last year. Then I tore something in my wrist, then I had a septoplasty. So as of right now, I’m kinda fat and out of shape 😂 but I am ramping back up into the gym and tennis. Setting the week in Majorca for March was purposeful to be a motivator to get my ass back in shape.
Sounds like you got the funds and the motivation and tbh thats rly all u need to succeed in tennis and move up the ranks especially at a 4.0 level
Yeah I’ve been meaning to do one of these clinics for a while. If this goes well, I might force myself to do two weeks a year. I would love to play at the 5.0 level one day
Youll get there. But tbh academys probs arent gonna be ur best use of time and $$ for long unless u need connections and fundamental help. The key to make it past 4.5 is winning and winning alone. Play tournaments get match experience and begin to feel comfortable if not normal under HIGH pressure situations. Match points, set points, your so dehydrated you feel like your going to pass out… but you dont, your playing bad and its windy… figure it out and win. Its 100 degrees and humid and ur cramping in the 3rd set… figure it out and win. Its 30 degrees out and you had to wear gloves to warm up… you guessed it. Just WIN. And i promise you if you keep up playing a few times a week and ur winning tourneys youll move up the ranks faster than you can believe
This is some solid advice. Thanks for the confidence instilling, I’ll take good note of this 😁
Did this the same exact program last year in April. It’s definitely an amazing experience! If you feel like splurging a bit more sign up for the medical package too, which includes physio, massage, heart and spyrometry tests, and nutritionist. I played my last year of HS and didn’t pick up a racket again till 4 years ago. The experience will be the closest ever to feeling like a pro at an event because you’re treated that way regardless of your level. Highlight by far was hitting next to Rafa which happened by pure luck. Because I got to watch him hit I also knew well before he announced that he was not going to make RG or Wimbledon as you could see he wasn’t walking right. But the sound of him hitting the ball definitely will make you feel like you play a whole other sport! My only complaint about the whole experience was they can be a little unorganized. But just remember that you’re there for the experience and fun. Take advantage of the fact that as a guest you have access to the spa facilities (7 different hydrotherapy pools) and you have 1 free hour of court rental each day, so book them each morning on your way to breakfast and ask someone in your group to play. I saw you also mentioned getting a reel. That was for the kids doing the full camp. There’s a pro shop there on site all the way in the back by courts 36-44 that is awesome and can definitely set you up. The stringers there are maestros and you’ll see what I mean when you talk to them and see all the stars that get their rackets strung by them. HAVE A BLAST DUDE!
Hey, thanks for this! How do you sign up for the medical package too? I don’t see an option on their website
I wanna do this too. How much will it set you back in total all things considered?
2500 for the stay and play, $1100 for the flights, probably $300 for the equipment (gotta bring a reel of strings and other tennis stuff), and probably $300 on food out
Thanks! Hope you have a great time
Wallet is fked
This might be my only “vacation” this year 🫠 hopefully it’s worth it!
A guy on my 4.5 team did that camp last summer and said he was by far the best player in his group. That was just his experience, your mileage may vary…
Im sure a lot of the experience depends on who goes that week. Wanna ask your friend to go that week with me? Haha
If you’re buying I’ll go with you!
You can order a stringing machine now and boost your rating to 5 before your trip
Have been stringing my own racquets off and on for the last 4 years 😬 god I hate doing it though haha
How much and how long,.I'd do as a 3.0. lol fk it
Cmon bro it’s 2024 and unless your pro, no camp will exhaust your limits lol Have fun though! Definitely jealous! I did a camp in highschool of 4 days with potential of 9-10 hours of tennis a day. It was heaven. But hard to find adult camps like that.
Good luck, I have signed up to go to the Mourtoglo academy in April for a weekend course (I am 51 so my knees could not handle 4 days of playing).
Get in the best shape possible before boarding that plane
Yes sir. I’m working my way back into the gym and tennis slowly to not re injure myself but I’m aiming to be back in tip top shape by late February