Tennis Clubs in NYC!

[TaintedWisdom]

Hiya guys,
as some of you know I just started playing tennis and whatnot.
However, I'm having a bit of a problem finding a good tennis club/center where I could find some people to play with, teach beginners, and has an overall friendly environment.

If you live in NYC, or know of a few clubs/centers which you think could benefit me (I dont want to pay $60+ per hour for 1 hour lesson. Is to expensive for me and just random lessons without having partners to practice with every week wont do much) I want more of a place where I could drop by a few times per week, play, and/or go to take lessons with some other players, coaches and wont charge me so much per hour.

I hope I was able to describe sort of what I'm looking for.
I never been part of a tennis club, and have no idea how they are(Only club I ever been part off is Boxing club and it was a great friendly environment and I would pay like a gym subscription) so a description of how they normally are, how much they charge, etc. would be great.

Thanks, and I appreciate any help.

 

[35ft6]

Everything is going to be too expensive for you, I think. Probably best to pay for a years public court pass and play as much as you can when the weather is warm.

 

[p0w3r]

New York City tennis courts require you to buy a permit to play on the courts (stupid..i know esp because lots of them are in bad condition).
If under 18 you need to pay just $10
Over 18...its $100!

If you want lessons go to the USTA Center in Flushing, Queens...they usualy have cheap group lessons there...i went there over the summer and it was nice and pretty helpful.

 

[TaintedWisdom]

Ok.. not exacly the type of response I expected but anyways.

A public court pass? (I don't need to pay for the public court thats closest to me) Also play only when the weather is warm, that has to be a joke.
In other words play for 4-5 months and then wait till next year to play again... (not sure if you live in NY or ever been to NYC but it aint exactly the best weather half the year, not even talking about rain)

p0w3r, how much did you pay for the lessons at the queens courts? (you can PM with more info) also, where do you normally play, lets say during the winter?
There has to be indoor courts in NY for the love of god lol. (and I can't believe they more than gym subscriptions) p0w3r, PM as soon as possible if you can with any info as you live in NYC to (and hey you into cars to?)

as for anyone else, anything else would be appreciate.

 

[thebosher]

You can travel out to like binghamton Tennis center in edgewater if you are willing to travel, they have a lot of indoor courts and stuff their and it is not that far from the city, I have played their it is very nice.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

I'm familiar with tennis clubs in Manhattan. Court time alone is expensive ($60 - $90 per hour) and availability is sparse.

Stick with the public courts if you are strapped for cash.

 

[p0w3r]

I'm familiar with tennis clubs in Manhattan. Court time alone is expensive ($60 - $90 per hour) and availability is sparse.

Yup, most indoor courts in the city cost at least $60 an hour and may require a club membership (which means even more money). Binghamton (as mentioned by thebosher) has many indoor courts and also theres Fort Lee Racquet Club in Fort Lee, NJ which also has indoor courts. Since both of these places are outside of the city...they are a lot cheaper...i know that Fort Lee charges 35 an hour and its a very nice place.

Your lucky that you dont have to pay for your local park, TaintedWisdom. My local park is Cunningham in Queens and i always have to have my permit and sign up for courts...when it is crowded i only get an hour of court time. As for my lessons, they were very cheap....mostly because i am a junior and because it was group lessons. It was $200 for Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm and just $100 for 4:30pm-7:30pm. I would call them up to see if they have anything now for you (how old are you by the way?). Their number is 718-760-6200 I also hear about tennistip.com and they have lessons in Manhattan...but never been there before.

For the winter, i usualy do not play. Indoor courts are just too expensive for me. I would just play untill it gets too cold and then wait out the winter and then start again. My most active time would be still the summer...which is almost every day. As for cars...well i raced ICA karts before and have always been into cars...but thats another story.

 

[cak]

So, if money is not a problem, how much would you have to pay to play on indoor courts in Manhatten? Are there clubs with indoor courts?

 

[35ft6]

Ok.. not exacly the type of response I expected but anyways.

A public court pass? (I don't need to pay for the public court thats closest to me) Also play only when the weather is warm, that has to be a joke.
In other words play for 4-5 months and then wait till next year to play again... (not sure if you live in NY or ever been to NYC but it aint exactly the best weather half the year, not even talking about rain)

So the weather won't be perfect but you can basically play from April to October, no? It's no joke. Beggars can't be choosers. I meant warm as in when it's NOT freezing and when the nets are up.

p0w3r, how much did you pay for the lessons at the queens courts? (you can PM with more info) also, where do you normally play, lets say during the winter?
There has to be indoor courts in NY for the love of god lol.

You didn't ask if there are indoor courts in NYC, you said money was an issue, so some of us answered accordingly. A public court pass is best option for your price range, and since you don't have money, I guess you might not be able to play any time you want.

So, if money is not a problem, how much would you have to pay to play on indoor courts in Manhatten? Are there clubs with indoor courts?

Midtown Tennis, Crosscourt Tennis, courts on Roosevelt Island, Tennissport and Fila Sports Club in Queens are the ones I've played at, but they're all probably out of this guy's price range. They used to have these really sweet indoor clay courts on the river near down by Wall Street, but I think they're gone now.

In college I got free court time by playing with the members whenever they didn't have a partner at Tennissport. I got to play a LOT and had to turn down court time 1 or twice a week.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

They used to have these really sweet indoor clay courts on the river near down by Wall Street, but I think they're gone now.

They were great under that huge bubble on the pier over the east river. New York Health and Racquet Club owned them. Still, expensive, but downtown, an easy walk from work and no anxiety about getting there on time.

They also weren't impossible to get court time and after playing one could catch a few beers and check out/pickup chicks at the bars in and around the South Street just up the street.

Good times for those of us who worked downtown.

 

[TaintedWisdom]

I forgot to mention the tennis lessons where from the Tennistip.com site.
Also, it was 60 dollars NOT 1 ON 1, but a group. (WHICH IS WHY, I'm finding the stuff way to expensive), check out the site and see the prices up in the east. Furthermore, I dont think I learned much as the other people in the group could all hit with top spin and everything. After talking to a few of them, they told me they also go to other coaches (so they def not begginers)

For 1 on 1 is $100+ per hour.

 

[Sennin]

Yup, most indoor courts in the city cost at least $60 an hour and may require a club membership (which means even more money). Binghamton (as mentioned by thebosher) has many indoor courts and also theres Fort Lee Racquet Club in Fort Lee, NJ which also has indoor courts. Since both of these places are outside of the city...they are a lot cheaper...i know that Fort Lee charges 35 an hour and its a very nice place.

Your lucky that you dont have to pay for your local park, TaintedWisdom. My local park is Cunningham in Queens and i always have to have my permit and sign up for courts...when it is crowded i only get an hour of court time. As for my lessons, they were very cheap....mostly because i am a junior and because it was group lessons. It was $200 for Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm and just $100 for 4:30pm-7:30pm. I would call them up to see if they have anything now for you (how old are you by the way?). Their number is 718-760-6200 I also hear about tennistip.com and they have lessons in Manhattan...but never been there before.

For the winter, i usualy do not play. Indoor courts are just too expensive for me. I would just play untill it gets too cold and then wait out the winter and then start again. My most active time would be still the summer...which is almost every day. As for cars...well i raced ICA karts before and have always been into cars...but thats another story.

Another Queens resident I see. I've played quite a few times at Cunningham this summer, and the only time a permit mattered was when a couple with a permit came when all the public courts were taken so we got kicked off Well, either way it's probably best to have a permit so you're pretty much guaranteed to play some. If you want some great outdoor courts that are totally free, check out the courts at St. John's (they are only one year old and are in great shape). I go to school there, and you supposedly need to be a student or alumni to play there but I've never seen anyone get checked. Also it's not usually full. One of the downsides though is the limited hours, especially during the summer.

 

[colababy]

I took a lesson at the national tennis center for $60 I believe, one-on-one. I recommend that, their group lessons, and using their courts. Court time is reasonably priced, but it's annoying because during August and September all the courts are closed for the US Open.

I live in Queens and I'm looking for free or cheap courts to use now. I know all NYC courts require the $100 permit, but some on the edge of queens, near Long Island, should be free. Where are they?

 

[strcmp]

If you want cheap, i'd second the guy who said go to NJ. I've never played at an indoor court in my life, but I know they are cheaper in NJ compared to NYC.

For convenience, just get a nyc permit and go to some nyc tennis meetup sites.. They play at central park and riverside all the time. You can find random partners all the time to hit with. If you can play at your park for free as you said, then you should be able to find random partners to hit with. If not, then the permit is worth it so you can go to the more popular parks to hit with ppl.

Try www.tennisnyc.com they have some coaches there and they play in NY and NJ. You have to pay to join and I think they mostly play outdoor courts, but the point is the coaching is cheaper.

Try craigslist.org in the lessons section for tennis lessons that are super cheap. I've seen it go as low as $25/hr. Some of the people look qualified to teach, others sound like it would just be an old guy tossing balls out of his hopper without any qualifications.

 

[p0w3r]

Another Queens resident I see. I've played quite a few times at Cunningham this summer, and the only time a permit mattered was when a couple with a permit came when all the public courts were taken so we got kicked off Well, either way it's probably best to have a permit so you're pretty much guaranteed to play some. If you want some great outdoor courts that are totally free, check out the courts at St. John's (they are only one year old and are in great shape). I go to school there, and you supposedly need to be a student or alumni to play there but I've never seen anyone get checked. Also it's not usually full. One of the downsides though is the limited hours, especially during the summer.

ah nice, i saw those courts ever time i take the Q46 to cunningham but i always thought that it was locked and required a student id to enter. maybe i'll check it out sometime. i live like 5 min away by bus

 

[thelimfactor]

Tainted wisdom...doesnt ur uni have tennis courts? Aren't uni students allowed to use thier own college's courts?

 

[thelimfactor]

Or if ur in medschool i'm sure some of ur seniors or medics are members of clubs, just befriend them and tehy may even get u playing in thier team. Medics are usually pretty frienldy, especially if we know u'll be one of our colluegues ina few years.

 

[TaintedWisdom]

Tainted wisdom...doesnt ur uni have tennis courts? Aren't uni students allowed to use thier own college's courts?

You have to join the team (which i'm not sure they even have this year), but right now I could care less. As some of you know, I have a TFC injury which is preventing me from playing tennis and I have no idea when/if I will play tennis again.