6 tips for playing indoor tennis on a budget!

"Baby, it's cold outside..."
Picture uploaded by P2Squared

Indoor Tennis Anyone?

Winter approaches! This is the time to start thinking "Indoor Tennis" for all of you on the East Coast. When it gets below 40 and so dark after work you just want to go home and take a nap...

Below are some of the best options to ward off the tennis blues and tips for playing tennis indoors.

Even with gloves and a parka, it's still good to have options when it's windy and cold outside!

6 Tips to "Save Money and Play More Tennis" this winter!

1) Weekend Tennis Party and Socials
If you just play once a week, you can join a local weekly "tennis party" that typically charges about $20-$30 so you can play all night of doubles (7-11pm).  Usually held on Fri/Sat nights at many local clubs, they are popularly known as "pizza tennis parties".

We can email you with any Tennis Events near your zip code!

More promo codes are updated regularly on our Facebook Tennis Coupons Page!

Pros: They usually have some light snacks or a pot-luck style party on Fri or Sat night.  It's a mixer with typically 30-60 people of various skill levels.  We match people up accordingly and rotate the doubles teams and provide the new tennis balls. Meet new people and get a chance to get on the courts, even if it's just once a week max.

Cons: The downside is that you might be matched with players at the wrong playing level if they do not rate and group them properly. Be sure to tell the organizer well ahead of time your playing experience.

2) Discount Memberships 2 for 1 and no enrollment fees
Alright, you're probably thinking...hmm, aren't private clubs and memberships really expensive?  Usually, but not always...you may be able to find monthly rates at some places.  Also look for promos that waive the enrollment fee (usually $100+ savings).

3) Request an extra "Guest Pass" when signing up with an existing member
If you want to play regularly over the winter without the membership dues (which at gyms are around ~$150/month avg), I'd recommend you to find a buddy who belongs to a local indoor club and then you can just pay a "guest fee" - typically $10 or $20.

Sometimes if you sign up together they can give you a discount as well, but be sure to ask.  But typically it will be cheaper if just one person has a membership and the other people pay guest fees for occasional usage.

4) Book a regular (non-peak) time-slot
If you can gather a group of 4 friends together and just have one person be the designated club member and the others pay the guest fee, this may be a good option at a lower price than booking ad-hoc. It helps if each week, you all can play tennis at the same hour (very early or late). *The hard part is finding a last-minute substitute, if one person cannot make it.

Tennis-Bargains Tip:
Here is a free 7-day online pass for Sport and Health clubs in the VA/DC/MD area. Please reference www.Tennis-Bargains.com, if you are asked how you found out about the deal.

I can only give you my personal option on the court quality vs price of most of the indoor clubs in the VA/DC/MD area that I have visited.  But I'll post some of my reviews of court quality, staff experience, parking benefits in another blog post.
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New US Open Promo Codes: Me+3 unlock and discount codes

Me+3 Promo Code for 4 Tickets (25% OFF)

Use promo code "TMNME3" to unlock

2-for-1 Tickets Promo Code when buying a Pair together

Discount valid for Sept 5-7 Sessions on Ashe Stadium
More 2-for-1 Ticket Discount Codes are available here.

Find Cheapest Prices for ANY session at US Open

Discounted tickets are usually sold by fans here, especially 1-2 days before a match! 

Bookmark and check back as prices change often. Lots of people will post extra tickets for sale the night before a match.

We found last-minute tickets up to 50% OFF for a few sessions.

Also if prices are too high, check the General Admission Tickets.
Sometimes the morning of the match (up until 11 AM), you can find single tickets this way if you are lucky!

Want more Ticketmaster promo codes and Discounts?

Subscribe here for the latest Unlock and Passcodes for Discount Deals

Arthur Ashe Kids Day Tickets for $5 each (buy 2, get 2 deal)

Bring the Kids to Arthur Ashe Kids Day (Sat, Aug 26)!

Enjoy all the music, tennis and fun for just $5 per person*

Purchase 4 seats together and get 50% OFF the normal price, for limited time only*

US Open Tickets for as low as $5 (General Admission) Deal

This is an excellent deal for the family on a budget who want to see the top tennis stars at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sat, 8/26/17.

Currently, standard tickets are regularly priced at $10 and $25 when purchased at the US Open box office.

*Tip: Any extra tickets left can be sold here.

2 US Open Ticket Tips: why it's better to buy tickets as a pair

Always consider buying Two tickets instead of just One.
Even if you don't need both, yet...Why?

Go watch the US Open with a Friend
One of the ball kid's proud mom got an extra ticket from Tennis-Bargains last year to watch her son!

Invite a tennis friend!
Tennis is always more fun when you bring your buddy :)
We are giving away US Open tickets in pairs. Enter for a chance to win.

One Pair is almost always better than 2 Single Tickets...

• It is much easier to resell when needed.
• For some reason, if you cannot attend and need to get rid of the tickets.
• In most cases, selling (or trading) a pair of tickets is MUCH easier than selling a single*

Greater Value when re-selling a pair of unused tickets

• The biggest marketplace for US Open tickets will get the quickest buyer and best price. Otherwise, you must hope you get lucky on Craigslist or eBay with legitimate tickets.
• Market research has shown that the sales price of 2 seats sold TOGETHER is usually higher than selling 2 single tickets apart, even in the same row.

US Open Tickets - Get Offer Codes & Buy One, Get One Deal

Problems with One Single Seat (Gap Seats or Splits)

• Think about going to a movie theater.  If you see a "one-seat gap" between two couples, it is a bit awkward and often that seat will stay empty.
• Also the US Open and the movie cinema both want to minimize "wasted" empty seats.
  
  Strategy for selling your Extra Seat if you end up with one extra single
• Sell it online at TicketExchange.
• This is a very easy and safe way to recoup your cost.
• There are other places you can post, but often the most hassle-free way is to just input your Ticketmaster barcode.

They guarantee the transaction and deposit your money straight to a bank account. Much easier than standing outside an hour before a game to try to unload a ticket!

Buyer's Tips with BOGO (Buy One, Get One Ticket Deals)

• When you purchase 2-for-1 tickets, you are already getting 50% off the box office price.
• For the same standard price, you get 2 tickets instead of 1. So think of it as a way to lower your final price of your own seat.
• When listing your discounted seat, you're essentially sharing the savings. It allows the next person to purchase the resold seat below retail price. Share the savings*

Tennis String Advice: tips for saving time and money

FACT: Eventually, all Racquet Strings Break or Lose Tension...
How do you keep your strings "fresh"? If you do not, then chances are you're changing your swing to compensate (aka poor technique).
Getting them sent to and from your normal tennis shop can be a hassle - gas, time and reminders.

Even if you buy your own stringing machine, you will most like spend a lot of time on stringing. One should be prepared to spend 1+ hr/racquet to learn to restring initially before one becomes better.

Yes, you can buy Tennis Strings on Amazon to put on yourself!

If you break often, consider buying a reel instead to save money.

The alternative (easy button) option was giving your string to a tennis shop. They will usually charge $10-$20 for the labor At the beginning of each new season, it is smart to get new strings with the proper tension.

If you don't restring, then tennis elbow from using dead poly strings, or simply poor performance from improper tension can be a result.

How often to restring?

The rule of thumb is to restring at least once per playing season.

If you play 4 times a week or more, then restring it at least that many times a year.

Drop-Ship Tennis Racquets - Freshly Strung with Free Delivery!

Update:
After moving to AZ, the company has announced it is closing as of Feb 2018. The concept and problems it solved for tennis players were sound, but I feel the financial model and margins of tennis stringing are still too low for mass scaling and shipping at this point in time. We wish Ryan nothing but the best for his future tennis career - an excellent USPTA coach if you ever need one in AZ.

Our Review of Rapid Racquet Repair

I was approached by the owner, Ryan. At first, I was skeptical and worried about the idea of putting my racquets in a box and mailing them. But with the Spring Season warming up, we decided to test out an interesting new tennis startup company. It offers door-to-door shipping service. Time to restring!

Free Box + Shipping for Stringing

What is Rapid Racquet Repair?
Tennis stringing in the USA with free door-to-door delivery. Watching his youtube videos, I can tell he is very dedicated to the art and growing business. Then I spoke to him in person, I knew Ryan was the real deal. He is USRSA Master Racquet Technician certified and a full-time tennis club pro.

Saving Time
If they are busy, you typically may wait up days or even up to a week for the stringer. Your tennis racquets will be absent from your bag until they are done. Also, you'll need to plan a trip out to pick them up during the shop's operating hours. With RRR, you get it delivered straight to your mailbox.

Quality
More important, is the quality of the stringing. Often at some pro shops, you may not even know if the stringer is a certified USRSA racket technician.

At most pro shops, you might get stuck with an inexperienced part-time college student that handles your racquet. Then you are at the mercy of whoever is available that day. With RRR, it's always a certified USRSA Stringing Pro.

Any regular USTA league player will tell you that before an important match, you want to *know* that your equipment won't fail you. Reliable strings for any avid tennis player are a must.

PROS:

• Expert USRSA Certified Stringers Only
• Avoids the Hassle of Drop-off and Pick-Ups Racquets
• Very fast (1-2 days) turnaround time - especially if you live in the Mid-Atlantic (DC/VA/MD area)
• Helpful "String Selector" menu option for choosing your string.