How do you find new people to play with?

Ultra Magnus

Ultra Magnus

New User
I'm not part of any clubs and all my friends are non-tennis people. I want to expand my tennis friend circle but I don't know how. I got 2 friends to buy racquets but they only played once and don't care for the sport. I tried asking around the gym and work but no one plays :( How do you meet new people to play with? I think I'm at 2.0 level and want to meet people to hit with to get better ........ I started playing tennis a month ago and now I'm hooked!

Thanks,
Ultra
 
Your best bet is pretty much joining a club or finding some public courts other people play at.

Then just ask if they'd mind playing with you, or go from there.

Go for the public courts first, that way it's free (or almost free, depending on where you live). Clubs are great though, I'd do that if you can.
 
I met one person at a public court but he was watching me and my girlfriend play so it was easy to ask him LOL! The public courts are free here but there's not many people using them (I play in Brampton). If I join a club, will they match me with other players my level?

I like to play with my girlfriend and her friends but they are really bad! They got me into tennis but I want to play at a different level. Does anyone know of any websites you can register with and find local players?

Thanks,
Ultra
 
I dunno on the websites, I've never used them if they exist.

Join the club. They don't automatically match you with players, but there are almost always a variety of people at all levels there. Ask, it'll be fine. Plus, most of the people will probably set you up with people if you ask.
 
There are a bunch of webistes for tennis partners just do a search. I tried it a couple years ago. In general I wasn't too successful in meeting players that way. The ones that I did play with overstated their level. One was kind of bizarre, he only wanted to hit forehands as hard as he could for an hour and that was it.

Go join a club or league it is much easier to get in touch with people.
 
Thanks all!! I think I'll go join a club, it beats making a t-shirt thats says "looking for tennis partners" LOL!

P.S. Which forum on this site should I use to look for players in my area?
 
Joining a club is your best bet, if you've got the bucks. (It costs you to JOIN the club, and then it costs you to STAY in the club.) But, it's the BEST way to play a lot of tennis - especially in the cold months. Aside from a private club, many city's have leagues in the summer. Check with your local Parks and Rec, and with the other P&R's around Toronto. Tennis.com has a place where you can try to find a partner online. It's near the bottom of their main page. Look under TOOLS for MATCH. It's free. There are other websites as well. Some are free and some cost a little bit.

Also, you might just hanging around the local courts. Hit serves by yourself or hit against a wall. If you're lucky there will be someone there that also wants to play, but doesn't have a partner.

And, I THINK I've seen other's from Toronto on this forum. Maybe try doing a search on TORONTO or something, or just posting a new topic with TORONTO in the title.
 
Geezer Guy said:
And, I THINK I've seen other's from Toronto on this forum. Maybe try ... posting a new topic with TORONTO in the title.
Click to expand...
Hey! That's a good idea. Your neighbors are sure to see that topic.

- KK
 
Or, if you're more ambitious, you can start your OWN league. Kapt Karl tells how he did that in his hometown. And if you charge people to get in the league, there's your summer job!
 
Starting your own league is really hard, but it pays off. Their are TONS of people who think tennis is some sissy sport old people play. That's because they watch tennis off of tv, and the pros make it look easy. I swear its harder than basketball.

But anyways, get people interested. Go to the public courts, post some papers up inviting people to play. Or go somewhere else where people go alot to post papers up that invite people to play friendly tennis. New people will come, experience people will come. I'm pretty sure some of the new people coming will get hooked just like you. When this happens, more people start to play.

We have ATC over here (Arlington Tennis Center). It's free with numerous great courts, with leagues that match up separate leveled tennis players. Ball machine rentals that you can hit with. So I guess the easiest way to get better and find new people is find a club.
 
Thanks all once again! I went to tennis.com but it shows one guy in Canada and he's all the way in Vancouver LOL! I found a really good website http://tennis.meetup.com/ but there's no organizer for Toronto :( Joining a club looks to be cheaper than becoming an organizer of that site ($19 US/month). Anyway I'll try and see if I can find any leagues and I'll create a Toronto post here.
 
Ultra Magnus said:
Thanks all once again! I went to tennis.com but it shows one guy in Canada and he's all the way in Vancouver LOL! I found a really good website http://tennis.meetup.com/ but there's no organizer for Toronto :( Joining a club looks to be cheaper than becoming an organizer of that site ($19 US/month). Anyway I'll try and see if I can find any leagues and I'll create a Toronto post here.
Click to expand...

Have you tried gotennis.com? I think there is also a place there to meet up with players around your area to hit with.
 
Take a beginning class and you'll meet plenty of other people at your level. Ask some if they want to play after class. You don't have to join a club. Plenty of city facilities or junior colleges have beginning classes- I took several myself when I first started.

When I first started, we would meet Wed. evenings and Saturday mornings. We would always make sure that 4-6 of us would be at the courts and do a round robin. If an odd number actually showed up, we would just rotate in and out every game. At the beginning stage, you're just looking for experience playing.
 
I played pickup doubles set last weekend.

Saw two young kids 12,15 with strong forehands playing next court to me and my mixed doubles partner.

My mixed partner was nearly finished after copping a few 10-1 handicaped super tiebreaker loses. :)

Asked these youngesters for a doubles set, introduced names, asked who was strongest, put strongest with my mixed partner. Thrashed them 6-1.

Great fun. Had to duck few of there screaming winner forehands. heh.
 
Thanks all for your advice. I found a cheap tennis club in Brampton which offers 4 free group tennis lessons. The other good thing is they have a time slot where players just show up and play round robin (all levels).

Just in case anyone is in North West Toronto here's the link: http://www.bramptontc.org/
 
Ultra Magnus said:
it beats making a t-shirt thats says "looking for tennis partners" LOL!
Click to expand...


Hahaha, it sounds like something I would totally do. Strange thing is, I bet it might even work. I would definitely approach someone if they wore such a shirt.
 
Ultra Magnus said:
... I found a cheap tennis club in Brampton which offers 4 free group tennis lessons. The other good thing is they have a time slot where players just show up and play round robin (all levels). ...
Click to expand...
That's good. That's exactly what I did when I first took up tennis 10 years ago. The drop-in round-robin's are usually other kinda "entry level" players (no offence intended), but it's a good way to meet people and play tennis, without having to worry about finding someone to play, agreeing on a time, scheduling a court, etc. The more you play there, the more people you'll meet, and the more options you'll have.

One other thing that worked for me: The private lessons are kinda expensive so I don't do them very often. However, whenever a new Pro comes to the club they usually over discounts if you take lessons from the new guy. I always do that. It's a good way to get discounted lessons. The new guy is usually trying to make a good impression, so he gives the best lesson he can. And, I like giving the new guy a break.
 
i just walk up to them and challenge them. they are usually older than me. its fun i learn won a couple of times but thats not wat matters. =] it helps to know a lot of peopel that play in the area you play cuz if you go to the courts one day alone and there is no one with you you can go play with them or something .idk. the first time my friends didnt come this old man challenged me. i sucked he kicked my ass.
 
Ask around at the local pro shop, craigslist, attend clinics, join a league 2.5 team , look for courts w/ backboards and single hitters.
 
The best way to know your level of play

The ITF developed an objective on court assessment for their global ratings scheme called the International Tennis Number.

I've done the ITN On Court Assessment and I think it is a great concept that the ITF have come up with.

The website at www.oncourtassessment.com now has assessors in 71 countries around the world and more and more players are doing the test and entering their scores on the website.

You can even compare your score to other players that have already done the assessment like 1990 French Open champion Andes Gomez and Wimbledon doubles champion Peter McNamara.

I suggest that everyone have a go to see how you compare to other players on a local, national and international basis.

Check it out at www.oncourtassesment.com
 
Ultra Magnus said:
Thanks all once again! I went to tennis.com but it shows one guy in Canada and he's all the way in Vancouver LOL! I found a really good website http://tennis.meetup.com/ but there's no organizer for Toronto :( Joining a club looks to be cheaper than becoming an organizer of that site ($19 US/month). Anyway I'll try and see if I can find any leagues and I'll create a Toronto post here.
Click to expand...

I checked out this site and found 3 playing partners already. Find your partner today.
 
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