Why do clubs even host USTA leagues?

[FiddlerDog]

Visitor players play for free. Leagues taking up courts from paying club members or local tax payers. Most of the time, even the home team is loaded with people from outside the facility. Basically, USTA Teams just hijack the courts from actual clientele who are footing the bills to maintain the courts. Does USTA pay various tennis facilities to host league teams?

 

[GrassCourtFan]

No, but a lot of clubs have a lot of members that want to play USTA leagues.

 

[jmnk]

Visitor players play for free.

not in Chicago. Visitors pay too.

Leagues taking up courts from paying club members or local tax payers.

that would be assuming that otherwise courts are occupied 100% of the time - which they are clearly not.

Most of the time, even the home team is loaded with people from outside the facility.

Which is fine since they have to pay for court time anyway. The club may be doing them a favor and not charge them guest fees - but frankly that is not a given.

Basically, USTA Teams just hijack the courts from actual clientele who are footing the bills to maintain the courts. Does USTA pay various tennis facilities to host league teams?

no. If a club does not want to have USTA league then there's nothing to force them to have it. Or the club structures fees such that it essentially is equivalent to having a team book a permanent court time and have it paid for in advance - which is a better deal for the club then hoping that someone will book that court otherwise.

so it is a win for a club. Which is why in Chicago there are many clubs with no USTA league team - because folks do not want to pay extra USTA fees when they do not get any discounts on court time anyway.

 

[OnTheLine]

I play out of a large public club. (City park, facility with 22 courts including a true stadium court) that is run by a private company.

Leagues make the club money.

A league player pays $150 per person per league. That fee excludes the $42 to USTA, but includes the balls for the season for home matches and court time.
Average roster is around 15 players per team. Season runs 10 matches, 5 of them are at home.
So per team the club takes in $2250.
Pays for 5 courts for 5 league matches ... total of 25 courts over 10 weeks. At $7 per court per hour ... 90 minute matches That is roughly $250
Pays for 2 courts per week for the team to practice ... $14 per week for 10 weeks ... costs the club another $150
$3 can of balls for those same 25 matches = $75
So "costs" are roughly $325 per team, but taking in $2250 per team So $1775 profit per team

My club hosts for 18+ season I believe 25 teams. So $48,000 in profit per season. With 40+, 18+, Mixed, Non-advancing Fall, Ladies' weekday, 50+, 55+, 65+ all those leagues add up to just shy of $150-200K in profit per year.

Many of those teams add a club pro for a team clinic ... more money in the till. Same players will use the club's stringers, and purchase from the club snack bar.

Same club hosts districts for every season. They provide balls and courts, USTA local provides the organizers and roaming officials. I can assure you the club does not lose money on it either.

So the point of this all: The dues paying players are not paying enough to have a club turn away league players who pay much much more.

 

[Raul_SJ]

league player pays $150 per person per league. That fee excludes the $42 to USTA

Wow. That is outrageously high. When I played out of a private club there were no fees beyond the ~$20 local usta team registration fee. My understanding was that the fees for players playing out of public parks was similar.

 

[FiddlerDog]

$44 for USTA. $25 to join the team, payable to USTA.
For a given match, visitors play free, and home players do not pay, since they are club members.
This means half the players on the court are bringing $0 to the club or facility, and are playing for free on court paid for by others.
The only way this makes sense is if USTA pays the club directly, "under the table"

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Most clubs have a limit to the number of non-members that can be on a USTA team hosted out of their facility. They do often allow some non-members because the members want to build strong teams and this allows them to recruit other good players. Having strong teams also builds the clubs reputation, getting people talking like “the team out of XYZ club always wins 8.0 mixed”, etc. It also helps the club recruit new members if the non-members on the team are having fun and making friends.

There is also the issue of court time. Only the most wealthy clubs in the US can afford to have empty courts just sitting there for the sake of maintaining an air of social exclusivity. If that’s what you want, then expect to pay a significant initiation fee and high monthly dues. If you are not paying more than a CrossFit gym, then you should expect the same amount of exclusivity as you would get from a CrossFit gym. Is the owner going to rent out open gym time when you aren’t there at a class? Definitely.

 

[schmke]

Arrangements with clubs vary in different areas.

In some, the League Coordinator negotiates with clubs/facilities to secure and pay for courts, and then matches are scheduled at these facilities.

In others a facility or club "sponsors" a team and in turn is then required to make courts available for that teams home match, and the LC uses this court availability in doing scheduling. The LC very well may pay something to the facility directly, but I think the bulk of it is left up to the facility to recoup however they see fit.

In my area, at my club at least, visitors pay a guest fee and non-member home team players also pay the guest fee. The home team pays no extra fee as our court time is included in our monthly dues and hosting USTA teams is a perk of our club. Public facilities with no special membership that are hosting teams will just charge all players the going rate for court time.

In other areas, the home team pays for the courts, again however the facilities sees fit to charge/collect, and guest are not charged.

Regardless, I don't think facilities are losing money. Are private clubs with members playing a balancing act of how many teams they can sponsor and have using courts vs non-league playing members complaining about lack of court time? Sure, but in my area our leagues are on weekends at times the courts would not be full normally.

 

[FiddlerDog]

Is the owner going to rent out open gym time when you aren’t there at a class? Definitely.

Yes, but USTA matches are held at peak prime time slots. 6pm weekdays. I can assure you that courts are never vacant at that time.
USTA leagues absolutely hog court with non-paying visitor players while paying members are blocked from those courts at prime time

 

[schmke]

Yes, but USTA matches are held at peak prime time slots. 6pm weekdays. I can assure you that courts are never vacant at that time.
USTA leagues absolutely hog court with non-paying visitor players while paying members are blocked from those courts at prime time

I don't know where you are or what arrangement the USTA has for securing courts in your area, but I suspect the facilities are getting paid in one way or another for the use of the courts, and/or members continue to pay their dues, so the facility has no incentive to change. If you don't like it, let your facility know and then show you mean it by going somewhere else to play. If enough players follow suit, and if that puts a dent in their business, perhaps they'll change.

 

[OnTheLine]

Wow. That is outrageously high. When I played out of a private club there were no fees beyond the ~$20 local usta team registration fee. My understanding was that the fees for players playing out of public parks was similar.

I really don't think it is that high .... and it is about the same as most of the clubs in town. Once you pay that fee you pay nothing else for the season. I figure 1 match a week plus 90 minute practice court for 10 weeks comes out to $15/week. Honestly, pretty cheap in my book.

Here the LLC schedules all the matches for the season and as a player you never play court fees no matter whether home or away.

 

[zipplock]

Wow. That is outrageously high. When I played out of a private club there were no fees beyond the ~$20 local usta team registration fee. My understanding was that the fees for players playing out of public parks was similar.

We play out of a local club with Har-Tru courts. Cost is $35 per person and covers both home and visiting players for the length of the league.

 

[recreationalplayer]

Visitor players play for free. Leagues taking up courts from paying club members or local tax payers. Most of the time, even the home team is loaded with people from outside the facility. Basically, USTA Teams just hijack the courts from actual clientele who are footing the bills to maintain the courts. Does USTA pay various tennis facilities to host league teams?

You have a plethora of responses w/similar and varying responses, a testament to the poor management and lack of uniformity w/in USTA or good as various areas are flexible to accommodate their players and facilities, depending on one's point of view. Here, in NC, the league coordinator is tasked w/negotiating w/facilities for court time for USTA matches to be held, part of the fee each USTA team member has paid to join a team will be used to pay that facility for USTA court time. And you are correct, USTA coordinators do hijack (purchase ) court time but keep in mind the facility in effect gets paid twice (double dipping) by members and by USTA. So the tennis facility/club management is more than happy to support USTA play. $$$$$ - not a bad gig if you can get it - and if you are a member of a club that is hosting a USTA match you are playing, you are in effect paying the club twice to use the same court. Bernie Madoff couldn't have done better. An "honest" way to fleece a customer.

 

[FiddlerDog]

So, USTA does pay the facilities to host matches? That was my exact question in the first post.

 

[socallefty]

At my club, there is no charge for visiting players to come and play USTA matches at our club and the club doesn’t make any money from hosting matches. The club has enough courts (22) and free slots in the middle of the day (10:30am, 11am, 1pm, 1:30pm starts) that it is no problem to have multiple USTA teams play matches as those are not busy times for other club activities or social matches.

With women’s weekday leagues, the ladies club teams schedule group practice sessions on multiple courts with coaches on the day prior to their match where each player pays $20 and the club makes money from USTA players in that way. In the men‘s weekend USTA leagues, the club doesn’t make any money. However, the chance to be on an USTA team is an incentive to attract new members to the club and retain current members. I assume that the club restaurant/bar makes money after USTA matches as there is a lot of socializing that goes on and usually this happens at a time (mid-day) where there isn’t much food/drinks business particularly on weekends otherwise.

 

[jmnk]

I play out of a large public club. (City park, facility with 22 courts including a true stadium court) that is run by a private company.

Leagues make the club money.

A league player pays $150 per person per league. That fee excludes the $42 to USTA, but includes the balls for the season for home matches and court time.
Average roster is around 15 players per team. Season runs 10 matches, 5 of them are at home.
So per team the club takes in $2250.
Pays for 5 courts for 5 league matches ... total of 25 courts over 10 weeks. At $7 per court per hour ... 90 minute matches That is roughly $250
Pays for 2 courts per week for the team to practice ... $14 per week for 10 weeks ... costs the club another $150
$3 can of balls for those same 25 matches = $75
So "costs" are roughly $325 per team, but taking in $2250 per team So $1775 profit per team

My club hosts for 18+ season I believe 25 teams. So $48,000 in profit per season. With 40+, 18+, Mixed, Non-advancing Fall, Ladies' weekday, 50+, 55+, 65+ all those leagues add up to just shy of $150-200K in profit per year.

Many of those teams add a club pro for a team clinic ... more money in the till. Same players will use the club's stringers, and purchase from the club snack bar.

Same club hosts districts for every season. They provide balls and courts, USTA local provides the organizers and roaming officials. I can assure you the club does not lose money on it either.

So the point of this all: The dues paying players are not paying enough to have a club turn away league players who pay much much more.

I must ask.
If that facility charges only $7/court/hr then, 5 matches at 2hrs per match is going to cost $70. If you add USTA fees, the fact that they provide balls and some court time for practice it is going to be roughly ~$150 per person _that is playing 100% of the matches_. Since I'm assuming some players do not play all the matches - why do you all pay $150 to the club? Why not just reserve a permanent court time for the required number of times/hours as needed for your matches, and divide that cost among however you like: among all members of the team, or who plays he pays.

 

[WhiteOut]

Visitor players play for free. Leagues taking up courts from paying club members or local tax payers. Most of the time, even the home team is loaded with people from outside the facility. Basically, USTA Teams just hijack the courts from actual clientele who are footing the bills to maintain the courts. Does USTA pay various tennis facilities to host league teams?

In our area, the clubs give unused / non-peak court times to leagues, which the local assn pay for, so the club benefits by having those courts filled when they may otherwise be empty. It's a guaranteed revenue stream, and some clubs treat leagues as a marketing tool as well. The clubs who don't make leagues available are booked solid with clinics, privates, etc.

 

[ChaelAZ]

It is a mixed bag for sure. Our Surprise AZ facility is booked by the USTA almost every weekend in the most peak weather and active tournament times, for months on end, so I can't even get a court to play. It is to the point now, most teams and other players don't even go to the facility, but play out of other places. That includes all the drop-in programs, classes and such too. But then I also play on leagues and know the courts are heavily booked during the week day evenings, which is good for consistent income and does serve that local players like myself. Leagues players and income make up the biggest part of the facility. So a bit of good and bad there. There are ALWAYS courts available when either leagues or USTA events are not happening, so not like anyone is being turned away.

Cost wise, our team pays all fees for matches and no one plays free. We also add in a half hour (finally able to negotiate that) warm up team for us at our facility, but for that the visiting team would have to pay extra. We usually end up with court fees and balls being around $50 per person in a normal team. Then when we go to playoffs and such that is extra for everyone as well.

So a complete non- USTA person who just wants to play might have some barriers for sure. But the question is, does that outwieght the bulk of the facility cost coming from the majority USTA income. Without that, the facility would have to be charging a lot more to compensate for a lot less activity and courts booked.

 

[Creighton]

@ChaelAZ @OnTheLine

Do you pay a monthly membership to your facility?

 

[J011yroger]

Play USTA in NYC, $45/match.

J

 

[eah123]

The club I belong to has annual member dues. It doesn't make or lose money for court time given to USTA leagues. The club pros receive a small salary, and otherwise need to make money on their own through clinics and private lessons. Consequently, one of the ways that the pros drum up business is to encourage members to join a USTA team. More active players = more clinics and private lessons.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

My club is going to vote soon to limit the max number of teams the club can have (not 3 4.0 mens teams etc. but 2 or 1), with both genders and multiple age groups, non-usta players are finding it hard to get weekend court time at least at desirable times of the day.

 

[OnTheLine]

I must ask.
If that facility charges only $7/court/hr then, 5 matches at 2hrs per match is going to cost $70. If you add USTA fees, the fact that they provide balls and some court time for practice it is going to be roughly ~$150 per person _that is playing 100% of the matches_. Since I'm assuming some players do not play all the matches - why do you all pay $150 to the club? Why not just reserve a permanent court time for the required number of times/hours as needed for your matches, and divide that cost among however you like: among all members of the team, or who plays he pays.

My math is not so snappy ... regular court time: it is $7/per person per hour ... 90 minute match time slot (although not timed matches), practice courts is 2 courts at 90 minutes each per week starting 2 weeks prior to the season and through the end of the season.

@Creighton club has no required dues. You can become a member for I think $150 annually, gives you 50% off league fees, free courts for entire year, 2 free stringings, and 1 60 minute private lesson with one of the 12 pros. The club also runs a full-time junior academy, so we have some very good teaching pros.

 

[Creighton]

My math is not so snappy ... regular court time: it is $7/per person per hour ... 90 minute match time slot (although not timed matches), practice courts is 2 courts at 90 minutes each per week starting 2 weeks prior to the season and through the end of the season.

@Creighton club has no required dues. You can become a member for I think $150 annually, gives you 50% off league fees, free courts for entire year, 2 free stringings, and 1 60 minute private lesson with one of the 12 pros. The club also runs a full-time junior academy, so we have some very good teaching pros.

Without a monthly membership you get a heck of a deal in the long run.

 

[2ndServe]

They aren't giving up valuable court time. Every club has our matches at 12 1pm ish . The courts are like a ghost town at that time. It's good exposure, makes the members happy , good for promoting the game all while just giving court time when no one is using it

 

[ChaelAZ]

@ChaelAZ @OnTheLine

Do you pay a monthly membership to your facility?

No, but it is my city tax money that a large chunk gets diverted for USTA needs instead of specifically our community players. So I understand it isn't the same as members who directly pay $100's or even $1000's for a club membership, but it is the same principle. City facilities and recreation programs are supposed to dircetly impact the community funding them, using tax money to build, maintain, or reduce costs as much as possible to give the most opportunties. Renting out or giving away that use goes against that, which would be the same as a private club. At least during peak times that it favors income over community opportunities.

 

[syshy111]

Interesting to see what people from all over the country deal with. In Atlanta, the captain of each team is tasked with securing the facility, and any facility with a minimum of 2 courts within the 9 county metro area I believe is acceptable. The public courts through the county parks and rec run roughly $275 a team for a season to guarantee 2 courts sometimes more based on availability for all home matches and playoffs. a lot of subdivisions will charge $25/player for a season or $50/year.

 

[sureshs]

At my club, USTA leagues are played in times of high demand (weekend mornings). And what is more, a player reserving a court just after the league match is supposed to end is still expected to wait if the match hasn't finished, because USTA leagues have the highest priority. In fact, the league players show an awful lot of irritation if the person with the booking stands at the gate waiting to come in, as if everyone should know how important league matches are and how they take priority over other bookings.

They also make noises if people move around on the patio as normal, getting ready to play on other courts. Apparently, you are supposed to whisper and not disturb these great players, who foot-fault about 50% of the time. Even pros can play to the noise of the USO night crowd, but these delicate nobodies cannot.

 

[Purestriker]

I don't know where you are or what arrangement the USTA has for securing courts in your area, but I suspect the facilities are getting paid in one way or another for the use of the courts, and/or members continue to pay their dues, so the facility has no incentive to change. If you don't like it, let your facility know and then show you mean it by going somewhere else to play. If enough players follow suit, and if that puts a dent in their business, perhaps they'll change.

We pick the date and time based on court availability for home and away matches. No fees for members or guests on outdoor courts, indoor courts is just the hourly rate for two hours divided among the players. The club doesn't care that outdoor is free because they sell a lot of beverages to spectators and players. They also get a lot of private and group lessons as a result of league play. Cardio tennis simply won't pay their bills.

 

[sureshs]

No, but it is my city tax money that a large chunk gets diverted for USTA needs instead of specifically our community players. So I understand it isn't the same as members who directly pay $100's or even $1000's for a club membership, but it is the same principle. City facilities and recreation programs are supposed to dircetly impact the community funding them, using tax money to build, maintain, or reduce costs as much as possible to give the most opportunties. Renting out or giving away that use goes against that, which would be the same as a private club. At least during peak times that it favors income over community opportunities.

On the flip side, many city facilities get USTA support for courts and tennis activities.

 

[Crazy Finn]

Well, in my area, vistors pay for court fees on matches - the same as the home team players. At the private health clubs like Lifetime Fitness, the members get their discount, but that's about it.

I'm sure the facilities make money this way. Leagues drive participation - which drives leagues. It works both ways. Some people become members because of exposure to the club via league play. They might even get money from the local USTA, but I don't know anything about that.

 

[kingcheetah]

My club staggers different levels/teams to try and leave courts available for members. In winter it's much more of a challenge. Spring teams still play indoors, the primary member demand in the early evening is for the outdoor clay courts anyway.

 

[Traffic]

All our local clubs charge a guest fee. So clubs that participate in USTA league match:
1. Support their members with forming teams and participating in league activity
2. Receive income from guest fees and court utilization

 

[Creighton]

I've never understood how the USTA could allow clubs to charge a guest fee to opponents.

You're telling me I have to travel to a facility and then pay to use that facility? The onus should always be on the home team to provide courts.

 

[OnTheLine]

I've never understood how the USTA could allow clubs to charge a guest fee to opponents.

You're telling me I have to travel to a facility and then pay to use that facility? The onus should always be on the home team to provide courts.

Totally agree.

If a club did that, I would mark myself unavailable for those matches. Sheesh.

 

[Matthew ATX]

What some of y'all have to pay for league blows my mind. It's like $38 or so to USTA to join a league team here. Court fees, that our team pays to whatever courts we call home, amount to about $20 per player for the whole season.* No visiting team pays to play at another team's courts.

*My teams only play out of public facilities. I don't know what members at country clubs have to pay to host a league team. But, again, visiting teams don't have to pay to play there for league matches.

 

[Crazy Finn]

I've never understood how the USTA could allow clubs to charge a guest fee to opponents.

You're telling me I have to travel to a facility and then pay to use that facility? The onus should always be on the home team to provide courts.

Totally agree.

If a club did that, I would mark myself unavailable for those matches. Sheesh.

That's a nice thought, but every facility works like this. I have to pay at my home matches, I have to pay at away matches.

One summer season, a team played at some high school courts and we didn't pay, I believe (or if we did, it was like $5) when we went there. Other than that, it's a court fee every time. If every player refused to play at facilities that charged visiting players, there wouldn't be a league because the visiting team would always have to forfeit with no players.

Outdoor play is only possible for the Summer season. Winter and Fall are all completely indoors. Thus, all of the venues are private clubs and fitness centers, as well as the local University tennis center. The fees aren't bad - $18-20 per match. Considering that if you want to book a court for an hour at these places - you'll be paying $25-35/hour - which you basically can't do anyway unless you're a member which is at least $120/month.

If you want to play in the winter and don't want to be in a league and don't want to pay $120/month to be a member of a club - you'll be lucky to scrounge 1 court time at 9:30pm on a weekday about every 3-6 weeks. Otherwise the courts are pretty booked solid with leagues, private lessons with pros, and team practices. I know, I did this for years. Also, this was before the virus. I have no idea what it's like now, but I'm sure it hasn't improved.

 

[OnTheLine]

That's a nice thought, but every facility works like this. I have to pay at my home matches, I have to pay at away matches.

One summer season, a team played at some high school courts and we didn't pay, I believe (or if we did, it was like $5) when we went there. Other than that, it's a court fee every time. If every player refused to play at facilities that charged visiting players, there wouldn't be a league because the visiting team would always have to forfeit with no players.

Outdoor play is only possible for the Summer season. Winter and Fall are all completely indoors. Thus, all of the venues are private clubs and fitness centers, as well as the local University tennis center. The fees aren't bad - $18-20 per match. Considering that if you want to book a court for an hour at these places - you'll be paying $25-35/hour - which you basically can't do anyway unless you're a member which is at least $120/month.

If you want to play in the winter and don't want to be in a league and don't want to pay $120/month to be a member of a club - you'll be lucky to scrounge 1 court time at 9:30pm on a weekday about every 3-6 weeks. Otherwise the courts are pretty booked solid with leagues, private lessons with pros, and team practices. I know, I did this for years. Also, this was before the virus. I have no idea what it's like now, but I'm sure it hasn't improved.

And why I am glad I live where I do. All outdoors all year round. Plenty of free courts in every neighborhood and excellent yet cheap clubs if you want to guarantee a particular time to play.

That, and you get very competent playing in the wind!

 

[socallefty]

That, and you get very competent playing in the wind!

Can you teach us some tricks on how to play well in the wind? I tend to hit and serve more to the middle in a crosswind, serve harder into the wind and serve higher-spin kick or topslice against the wind. I also try to drive the ball more to get depth against the wind. Other tips would be welcome.

 

[Creighton]

That's a nice thought, but every facility works like this. I have to pay at my home matches, I have to pay at away matches.

One summer season, a team played at some high school courts and we didn't pay, I believe (or if we did, it was like $5) when we went there. Other than that, it's a court fee every time. If every player refused to play at facilities that charged visiting players, there wouldn't be a league because the visiting team would always have to forfeit with no players.

Outdoor play is only possible for the Summer season. Winter and Fall are all completely indoors. Thus, all of the venues are private clubs and fitness centers, as well as the local University tennis center. The fees aren't bad - $18-20 per match. Considering that if you want to book a court for an hour at these places - you'll be paying $25-35/hour - which you basically can't do anyway unless you're a member which is at least $120/month.

If you want to play in the winter and don't want to be in a league and don't want to pay $120/month to be a member of a club - you'll be lucky to scrounge 1 court time at 9:30pm on a weekday about every 3-6 weeks. Otherwise the courts are pretty booked solid with leagues, private lessons with pros, and team practices. I know, I did this for years. Also, this was before the virus. I have no idea what it's like now, but I'm sure it hasn't improved.

I will caveat, I understand court fees for indoor courts. At that point everyone knows there will be a cost to pay for the facility.

But, I do have an issue with outdoor court fees. In our local league we generally have a local park that has courts that teams will form. I just can't imagine asking them to pay a fee to come play at my country club when I could go play at their facility for free.

 

[onehandbh]

Can you teach us some tricks on how to play well in the wind? I tend to hit and serve more to the middle in a crosswind, serve harder into the wind and serve higher-spin kick or topslice against the wind. I also try to drive the ball more to get depth against the wind. Other tips would be welcome.

My high school's courts often had very heavy winds.

With the wind I went for bigger serves and had to try and hit a lot of topspin with low net clearance or go for flatter shots.

Against the wind, dropshots are deadly. Even if the opponent gets to it, once they are at the net you can hit a vicious topspin lob the has the trajectory more like a badminton birdie than a tennis ball.

 

[leech]

Basically, USTA Teams just hijack the courts from actual clientele who are footing the bills to maintain the courts. Does USTA pay various tennis facilities to host league teams?

Late to the party, but in my area USTA charges around $20/player to play indoors at various private and public facilities. Not all private clubs participate, but it gives them a chance to fill their courts during non-prime hours (usually 8pm or later...some indoor league matches start as late as 9:30pm!), bring in some revenue, and perhaps entice a new pool of players to join their club. Win-win! (And if it's not a win-win, the club is under no obligation to continue their partnership with the USTA leagues)

 

[OnTheLine]

Can you teach us some tricks on how to play well in the wind? I tend to hit and serve more to the middle in a crosswind, serve harder into the wind and serve higher-spin kick or topslice against the wind. I also try to drive the ball more to get depth against the wind. Other tips would be welcome.

You're kidding me right? I would think you would be quite solid in wind given your area. (and ranking!)
I agree with your serve choices.... but when winds are over 25mph I tend to have to drop the toss too low for top slice or my modified kick.

Rest of game ... In wind I tend to keep the ball low and sliced, to safe targets. Force opponent to hit up on it and let the wind do the rest.

But playing in the wind is 99% mental. Play the ball not the wind. Move your feet much more than without wind. Keep your sense of humor.

 

[Vox Rationis]

Definitely not free in my area. Visitors, Club members, even employees all have to pay the same fee to play matches at any of the clubs.

 

[socallefty]

You're kidding me right? I would think you would be quite solid in wind given your area. (and ranking!)
I agree with your serve choices.... but when winds are over 25mph I tend to have to drop the toss too low for top slice or my modified kick.
Rest of game ... In wind I tend to keep the ball low and sliced, to safe targets. Force opponent to hit up on it and let the wind do the rest.
But playing in the wind is 99% mental. Play the ball not the wind. Move your feet much more than without wind. Keep your sense of humor.

Thanks. We don’t get 25mph winds except maybe twice a year, mostly it is in the 10-15mph range during some times of the day when we get the sea breeze coming in. I’m generally a power baseliner and I feel that even winds in that range force me to be less aggressive and slice or hit finesse shots (drop shots, short angles) more. Also, I have to aim for bigger targets away from the lines on both serves and shots. So I adjust to the wind, but I feel that winds level the playing field with more defensive players and there are a lot more breaks of serve than normal.

 

[OnTheLine]

Thanks. We don’t get 25mph winds except maybe twice a year, mostly it is in the 10-15mph range during some times of the day when we get the sea breeze coming in. I’m generally a power baseliner and I feel that even winds in that range force me to be less aggressive and slice or hit finesse shots (drop shots, short angles) more. Also, I have to aim for bigger targets away from the lines on both serves and shots. So I adjust to the wind, but I feel that winds level the playing field with more defensive players and there are a lot more breaks of serve than normal.

I don't consider 10-15mph a wind. Definitely a breeze at best. Here we expect to see winds over 20mph regularly with gusts to 40.

I agree with your assessment on shot selection/tactics.

I have a match tomorrow night .... Winds expected at 30-35mph. I am almost hoping the other team defaults my line. That is simply unpleasant.

 

[MRfStop]

Yes, but USTA matches are held at peak prime time slots. 6pm weekdays. I can assure you that courts are never vacant at that time.
USTA leagues absolutely hog court with non-paying visitor players while paying members are blocked from those courts at prime time

If 6pm on weekdays is peak time...what is happening on Saturday and Sunday?

 

[denoted]

Just like ultimate frisbee, there is a point at which tennis cannot be played in the wind. I would say that 25mph+, especially without good shielding, is close.

 

[socallefty]

If 6pm on weekdays is peak time...what is happening on Saturday and Sunday?

My club peak time is as follows:

Weekday mornings from 9am to 12:30pm - courts full with women’s weekday leagues and their practices/group drills/social matches mostly played by housewives
Weekday afternoons from 3-6pm - courts full with junior practices and their group drills. Also some coed social matches and doubles open courts from 4:30-6pm
Weekday evenings from 6-9 pm - Courts full with working guys playing organized club events or social matches. Some courts still full of juniors getting coached. On Fridays, courts full with coed mixed doubles.
Weekend mornings from 8-10:30am - Courts full with mens and mixed club events and social matches. Only a few people play social singles on weekend afternoons or you see families playing together with their young kids.

Otherwise, early morning before 8am on weekdays, lunchtime-3pm on weekdays and weekends after 10:30am are wide open usually. USTA weekend home matches start at 10:30am, 1:30pm or 2pm typically and we might have 2-3 USTA teams playing at the same time on our 22 courts.

 

[OnTheLine]

If 6pm on weekdays is peak time...what is happening on Saturday and Sunday?

Here Saturday is league day. Matches run from 7am to 7pm. You will not find an empty court at pretty much any club in town on a Saturday. (both men's and women's 18+ and 40+ leagues are all on Saturday)
Sunday Mixed leagues Noon 7.0 & 9.0; 2pm 6.0; 3pm 8.0

Once summer weather hits here, the clubs all close from about 11am and re-open at 6pm. Playing at temps over 110 is just not done.
Summer prime court time is either 7am-10am or after 7pm ....