Recreational/league tennis in NYC

J

jjk20

Rookie
What are some good options for a guy moving to the NYC area this December? I understand the best options for me would probably depend on what part of NYC I live in, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask on here for some ideas.

I am coming from North Dakota and am rated at 4.5 here. However, I have a feeling a Nodak 4.5 might not be as high a quality as a 4.5 NYC player. I am 30 and played some college tennis in North Dakota. I play when I can now, however a lot of my tennis court time was spent coaching high school teams. I'm hoping I'll be able to play a lot more now that I won't be coaching.

I am still looking for a place to live there, so I can't say what area of NYC I'd like you guys to give me suggestions for. Looking for any pointers. Thanks!
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
Yeah, definitely depends on where.
Are you looking in Manahattan.. if so, what part?
If you're looking in one of the outer boroughs, again, it depends on which borough, and which part of that borough.
What's your budget? If no budget, just google any tennis club near you.
If there is a limited budget, then outdoor nyc courts then you have to get a pass http://www.nycgovparks.org/permits/tennis-permits ($200?). Lines are atrocious.

I've played with a number of folks from upper manhattan that drive up to lower Westchester to play (beats waiting on lines on the nyc public courts)... presuming you have a car, i'd be willing to hit sometime (as long as the weather holds, or wait til spring)

Personally if I was 30 and moving to NYC, I'd only consider Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens... but likely try to live near wherever I was working)

Also would try joining: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/NYCTennisPartners/info
but of course you'll have to deal with self rated folks (eg. 3.5's that think they are 5.0's)

Back when I was living in Manhattan I gave up playing tennis because I found it too painful finding folks to play, and scheduling times, and also waiting for a court.... but then again the digital ways of finding people/reserving courts, weren't available.
 
R

RLM

New User
Most outdoor public courts are closed for the season. I play at Midtown Tennis Club in the winter. The courts aren't the greatest, but the location is convenient (Chelsea), and it's not too bad scheduling court time. It is expensive though - $100+/hour.
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
most expensive courts I've played on were at the vanderbilt club (top of grand central), for $160/hr...

that said, presuming you, like me, prefer not paying >50/hr/person, you can check out off hour times (eg. after 9p at places like dick savitt, or stadium in the bronx), where you can get the cost down to like 20-30/hr/person... or drive out to westchester (20min from manhattan) where court time is (similary 20-30/hr/person)... or out to NJ (eg. Binghamton Tennis club) you can join a "tennis party" for like 40-60/3hr (including food).

nyc in general is expensive, then again the salaries are typically higher too...

it was definitely a pleasant surprise, when I moved out to NH for a startup, and indoor court time was 15/hr (7.50 pp), and ball machine was free.
 
D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Why NYC.

Its freezing cold and rains too much along with too many people!!
Oh yeah, its super expensive.

Sure you guys have great restaurants and museums, of course
 
R

RLM

New User
dgold44 said:
Why NYC.

Its freezing cold and rains too much along with too many people!!
Oh yeah, its super expensive.

Sure you guys have great restaurants and museums, of course
Click to expand...

To each his own. I grew up in the *******, but can't imagine leaving Manhattan any time soon.
 
J

jjk20

Rookie
Well, I'm finally here! I am in an Airbnb until the 27th in the Brooklyn area (Bushwick). I would love to meet up with someone to play before I move on to my next borough - Astoria, Queens. Only thing is I don't have my tennis stuff with me. I would mainly need to borrow a racquet. I don't have my normal tennis shoes either, but I have my Nike Shox so that will have to do.

Like I said before, in ND I was rated at 4.5, but I would say I'll probably be playing at a 4.0 level. I'm a 30 year old male as well. I'm up for any kind of tennis - singles, doubles, or mixed. I just want to get out on court and meet some people!

You will also need to suggest where to play because I have no idea! I would prefer not to pay $100 for court time, although if that could be split, I'd consider it. Hope some of you are in the area!
 
D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Brooklyn sounds like the super cool place for 30 something and younger hipsters, I have been told

Queens is still pretty super expensive and does not sound as pleasant
 
Heck

Heck

Rookie
Brooklyn, Queens, and yes even the Bronx all have good tennis.. From free to budget friendly you can find it if you can get around. I play with the Bronx Tennis Meetup group http://www.meetup.com/bronxtennis/ and
have met many players. They and other local meetup tennis groups have winter indoor events.

You can try these other groups on meetups
http://www.meetup.com/BKMNTennis/
http://www.meetup.com/westchestertennis/
http://www.meetup.com/newyorkcitytennis/

I tend to play in the Bronx because Westchester it's just hard to find players and games on a budget.
 
eelhc

eelhc

Hall of Fame
dgold44 said:
Brooklyn sounds like the super cool place for 30 something and younger hipsters, I have been told

Queens is still pretty super expensive and does not sound as pleasant
Click to expand...
Young, hip, artsy, starving people move to affordable areas and make it hip. Shortly after, the banker types who want to be hip but don't know how buy their way in. A new generation of young, hip people move on to a different area and the cycle repeats... Soho to Brooklyn to Beacon... So it goes.
 
D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Portland rent prices have skyrocketed to among some of the biggest hikes in the last several years in the entire country
My rent went from 700 to 1300 in several years
Now I am going to move out in spring and possibly back to burning hot South West of USA
Portland also does not build much
 
D

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Is Mac at age 55 or whatever still the best player in NYC !!

Noah Rubin is up to 350 now

That would be interesting charity match
 
R

redclayny

New User
jjk20 said:
Thanks! I tried that Brooklyn Meetup group.
Click to expand...
This time of year there are few outdoor options. Friday night doubles mixer at Stadium Tennis is pretty good. $35 for at least 2 hours. And they have a pretty good league.
Send me a PM and I'll give you the contact info and the NYC tennis scoop.
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
redclayny said:
This time of year there are few outdoor options. Friday night doubles mixer at Stadium Tennis is pretty good. $35 for at least 2 hours. And they have a pretty good league.
Send me a PM and I'll give you the contact info and the NYC tennis scoop.
Click to expand...
what level of folks play at stadium on Friday nights?
 
R

redclayny

New User
nytennisaddict said:
what level of folks play at stadium on Friday nights?
Click to expand...
Look at like this. In the depths of winter, when it's 20 degrees and 20 mph winds, only people who love tennis are going to trek to the South Bronx to play.
Really, it's hit or miss. Sometimes, not many good players. Other nights, a handful of 4.0's, even 4.5 and the games are great. Overall, it's an easy going crowd.
 
Last edited:
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
redclayny said:
Look at like this. In the depths of winter, when it's 20 degrees and 20 mph winds, only people who love tennis are going to trek to the South Bronx to play.
Really, it's hit or miss. Sometimes, not many good players. Other nights, a handful of 4.0's, even 4.5 and the games are great. Overall, it's an easy going crowd.
Click to expand...
Do you have to call in advance? (Do you have a # (or is it just stadium court #?))
Also, any way to tell (eg. call) if there are good players before hand?
For $40 on a Fri/Sat night, I can usually play 2hr singles (1hr drilling 1hr sets), with a handful of 4.5/5.0 folks.. but on the occasion I don't make plans, or folks are booked up, I wouldn't mind showing up to a social if there usually good players there (there are also socials with decent players at the Binghamton Tennis club in NJ and in Stamford, CT (same distance from where I am in Westchester))

http://www.meetup.com/tennis-354/
 
R

redclayny

New User
Yes, generally, you need to reserve a spot, otherwise it may be all booked. After you come a couple of times and know who the good players are, you can nudge the guy organizing it about who's reserved for the coming week. You probably know how these mixers are. You can go hoping to get in some good tennis, but often have to put up with some not-so-good tennis, too. I can't say it's better than the options you already have.
Send me a PM and I'll give you the contact info.
 
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