Tennis Anyone?

[Anonymous]

I’m 54 and would like to play tennis. I’d rank myself as advanced beginner (2.5). I’ve taken group classes every few years and hit around with friends, but nothing formal.

I’d like to start playing regularly for health and social reasons and need a good place where I can play weekly and progress. I don’t belong to a gym or country club. Looking for recommendations near McLean, Bethesda, or DC.

[Anonymous]

I was in your shoes several years ago and never found anything. I joined the sport and health club but only did clinics. It was hard to find people to play with. I belong to a country club too and they also do a really bad job getting people involved. Clinics fill fast and I’ve been on a waitlist for lessons for years. I doubt the wait is that long, they just never called which is a good example of how little they care about getting members involved.

Maybe the McLean swim and tennis club?

[Anonymous]

There are tennis meet ups all over the DMV. My dh plays at the weekly Meet Up group in Silver Spring. It costs $10/year and he's made friends who he plays with a few days a week.

[Anonymous]

Worldgate in Herndon has a lot of tennis classes, socials, etc.

[Anonymous]

Rock creek tennis center

[Anonymous]

Move to Atlanta, Georgia--among the most active tennis community in the country. Join ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) or play on a USTA team.

Many Southern US cities-such as Atlanta--have residential communities called swim/tennis communities. Folks just join their neighborhood team.

Bethesda, Md. has lots of tennis courts per 10,000 population.

Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, NC, and Tallahassee offer active tennis communities.

Google racquet clubs/tennis clubs in your area and contact them and ask.

Apparently, tennis is huge in China--but the commute is quite difficult. Plus, they talk funny over there.

[Anonymous]

Avid tennis player here.

Your location guidance is helpful. Now -- WHEN would you like to play? Can you play during the day? Only at nights? Weekends?

Do you want clinics or match play/leagues?

[Anonymous]

Meetup.com has a lot of social tennis groups for casual doubles round robins. I've played in a few different groups, always a good time.

Tennisdc.com has online singles leagues, matched by skill level. You can start in the recreational league and play with other 2.5s. I've played in the 3.0 and 3.5 leagues, easy setup to meet people for matches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rock creek tennis center

+1

Adult lessons would be a good way to meet others you can meet up with later perhaps. My kid takes lessons here and loves it.

[Anonymous]

OP, I posted about rock creek and also looking into this:

https://northdc.playtga.com/pd/1767/2023-fall-adult-classes?returncom=productlist&source=search

I’m still a 1.0 tennis player.

[Anonymous]

I would be an optimist about it

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks so much for the help. I’ve taken lessons at RCTC but I usually get boxed out because clinics at my level are full except from 8:30-10PM on weeknights, which is too late for me. Ideally I’d play weekly on Saturday mornings and/or an evening after work. I’m not free on weekdays. I considered a league or meetups, but I’m self conscious about my lack of serve and inexperience with anything but rallies. I’m not very competitive - more a cooperative social player, lol.

[Anonymous]

Are you in DC? They have occasional adult events and meetups. If you contact their tennis director, he’s super helpful and could likely put you on the email list. I think even if you’re not in DC you can participate at a slightly higher rate.

[Anonymous]

OP, don’t feel bad. I’m a 3.0 player because of my serve (once the ball is live I’m much more of a 2.5) and I’ve had terrible luck staying in clinics/lessons consistently. 2.5-3.5 is the hardest level at which to access lesson, clinic and team sign ups because it includes most beginners and improving intermediate adults who didn’t play growing up. I’ve tried to join a league for years but where I live the number of teams that each club can submit to USTA is limited and existing players are grandfathered in and control their rosters. It makes leagues very cliquey, and open tournaments not very fun since they’re dominated by people who get more playing time in leagues. I keep trying, though.

I don’t have a solution for you but feel relieved that I’m not the only one unsuccessfully chasing more tennis!

I lived in Dallas when I started my adult beginner career and it was an amazing place to play. Tons of leagues and clinics! I took lessons and played 3-4x/week and never worried about court times or wait lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, don’t feel bad. I’m a 3.0 player because of my serve (once the ball is live I’m much more of a 2.5) and I’ve had terrible luck staying in clinics/lessons consistently. 2.5-3.5 is the hardest level at which to access lesson, clinic and team sign ups because it includes most beginners and improving intermediate adults who didn’t play growing up. I’ve tried to join a league for years but where I live the number of teams that each club can submit to USTA is limited and existing players are grandfathered in and control their rosters. It makes leagues very cliquey, and open tournaments not very fun since they’re dominated by people who get more playing time in leagues. I keep trying, though.

I don’t have a solution for you but feel relieved that I’m not the only one unsuccessfully chasing more tennis!

I lived in Dallas when I started my adult beginner career and it was an amazing place to play. Tons of leagues and clinics! I took lessons and played 3-4x/week and never worried about court times or wait lists.

Ohhhh, same! We even belong to a big country club here and I struggle to get play time. In the south, I had a team and leagues and clinics all through the country club and I played almost every day. I miss it so much.