At MyTennisLessons, we love all sports that require a racket. In fact, we recently added a ping pong table to our office so that we can practice our topspin when we aren’t on the tennis court. If you can’t get away from tennis but need to expand your social horizons, there’s plenty of clubs, groups and venues across the country for people who love racket sports. Here are just a few.
Padel (Paddle Tennis) at Sunset Padel, Los Angeles
If you’re in East Hollywood, check out this sports complex owned by former Spanish pro padel players where having a cup of coffee with friends at the courtside cafe is customary after a match. Oh, you don’t know what padel is? Don’t worry, as a tennis player you’ll pick it up easily. Popular throughout Spain and Latin America, padel is played in doubles with stringless rackets on a grass court about half the size of a regulation tennis court. Scoring is the same as tennis, but players can hit the ball off the side or back walls. If you’re looking for something social to enhance your tennis game, this might be the ticket. The club often has round robin tournaments and even hosted a paella party for the World Cup in June.
Ping pong at SPiN, New York City
Take 17 ping pong courts, a full bar, a restaurant, and live music, and you might have a tennis player’s social paradise. Book a court with friends starting at $30 per hour at this nightclub located in New York’s Flatiron District In between games you can have some exotic menu items like a chorizo corn dog or alcoholic creamsicle float. P.S. The venue is owned by Academy Award winning actress Susan Sarandon who in 2012 donated $95,000 worth of ping pong equipment to New York schools.
Tired of sock tan lines? Play tennis in your bathing suit on the beaches of Miami. Well, not tennis as you know it. Switch cement for a beach volleyball court and forget groundstrokes because balls don’t have much bounce on sand. Grab a paddle and start practicing your volleys if you want to play this sport. The Miami group meets on Sundays and you can come with a partner or alone because teams will be mixed anyway. Sounds like a great way to meet people.
Ping pong at PongRock, Austin or Nashville
Join the league that welcomes players “Who think they’re good, but have been drinking too much during league play to prove it.” League play lasts five weeks and starts up again every few months. All levels are welcome to join the group that has perks like weekly prizes and drink specials. The atmosphere is less competitive and more social, and according to league rules if you cheat you’ll get karate chopped in the face. Locations include The Goodnight and Lavaca Street Bar in Austin and Drifters in Nashville.
