Okay, so about this whole ‘parks tennis player’ thing. It didn’t start fancy, lemme tell ya. One day, just walking through the local park, saw these courts. Mostly empty, a bit worn down, you know? And I thought, why not? Needed something to do, get off the couch.
Getting Started – The Clumsy Phase
First thing was getting a racket. Didn’t wanna spend much. Went to a second-hand sports store, found this old thing for like, ten bucks. Probably warped, who knows. Bought a tube of the cheapest tennis balls I could find – the ones that barely bounce after a week.
Then, it was just me and the backboard. Well, some parks have a wall, right? So I’d just go there. Thwack. Ball goes flying everywhere but where I wanted it. Felt like a real idiot sometimes. People walking by, probably thinking ‘look at this guy’. But hey, gotta start somewhere.
Spent weeks just hitting against that wall. Sometimes I’d try serving. Oh man, the serves. Most went straight into the net, or sailed clear over the fence. Embarrassing? Totally. But also kinda funny after a while.
Finding People (or Trying To)
Hitting a wall gets old. You wanna play against, like, a person. That was tricky. The park courts aren’t like a club. No sign-up sheets, no organized games. Just random people showing up.
Sometimes I’d see others playing. Mostly regulars, seemed like they knew each other. Felt awkward just walking up. So I’d just hang around, hit against the wall nearby, hoping someone might need a partner. Didn’t happen often at first. More than once, I just packed up and went home after hitting solo.
Eventually, bumped into a few other beginners. We were all equally terrible, which was great. No pressure. We’d just try to keep the ball in play for more than two hits. Usually failed, but we laughed about it. That’s the vibe at the park courts, mostly pretty chill.
- Got a slightly better cheap racket later.
- Learned to actually keep score (sort of).
- Figured out which courts had fewer cracks.
The Reality of Park Courts
You gotta understand, park tennis isn’t Wimbledon. The nets might sag. There are cracks you learn to avoid. Sometimes leaves are everywhere. And yeah, sometimes you gotta wait for a court, especially on nice weekends. Shared space, you know?
But that’s part of it. It’s free, it’s accessible. You see all sorts of people. Old timers with ancient wooden rackets, kids just messing around, folks like me just trying to get some exercise. No fancy white outfits required. Just show up and play.
Where I’m At Now
So, years later, am I good? Nah, not really. Still whiff shots, still double fault like crazy sometimes. But I can hold a rally now. Got a decent racket (still not expensive!). Found a few regulars I hit with. It’s just part of my routine.
It’s not about becoming a pro. It never was. It was about getting out, moving, having a bit of fun without spending a fortune or joining some stuffy club. Just hitting a yellow ball around a court in the park. And honestly? It’s pretty great. Simple stuff.
