Frequently asked questions
Q. How can I play on NYC Park tennis courts? A. You may choose to either purchase a permit that's good for the entirety of tennis season (early April through late November) or a day pass to just play once. Permit costs vary but have gone downin 2017 to $100 for adults 18-61 for the full season. Kids and seniors costs are significantly lower (find detailed information here). Single play permits are $15. Please note that busy courts in central locations have a sign up sheet system and an attendant. Plan on showing up on the hour or even earlier to sign up to play after a 1-2 hour wait during peak hours in warm weather. Inwood Park and other uptown tennis court locations enjoy much better availability with little to no wait times during peak hours.
Q. Do I need a tennis permit to take lessons? A. No.
Q. How can I join in on the action and meet tennis players? A. Buying a tennis permit and playing pickup games is always an option for all skill levels though it might be particularly effective for intermediate and advanced players. Another option is to check out your local tennis meetup.com groups who are helpful in pairing you with players at your level or better for practice sessions. Finally, if you take lessons with me I'm always happy to connect my students with each other for practice sessions.
Q. What is a NTRP rating? A. The short answer is that it's a 1-7 scale used by the USTA League program to rate players. To determine your own rating you can try following this rubric.