Bangkok Tennis has a little bit of everything. From run down tennis courts, to highly prestigious courts with world-class tennis academies, and everything in between.
There is a wide range of players from beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The Thai players are friendly and welcoming, and there are plenty of foreign expats playing tennis in Bangkok as well.
In playing tennis with Thai players, the first thing I noticed is the language barrier. English is not widely spoken, but there are a few players at each facility that speak enough English to get you by.
The beautiful thing about tennis, that I discovered, is that you don’t need to speak the same language to play with someone. All you need is a tennis racquet, some balls, a court, and a smile, which is what I found myself doing in Bangkok.
If you a visiting or vacationing in Bangkok, you will probably find yourself close to the Bangkok Train System (BTS) that runs along Sukhumvit road. The train makes transportation to some tennis courts simple and convenient.
Another transportation option is to book a car using Grab, which is an app similar to Uber. Grab is widely used in Bangkok, and works well, but unlike the train system, it will put you in the middle of heavy traffic during peak hours.
Tennis Facilities in Bangkok
Let’s take a look at some of the best and most convenient courts in Bangkok. I will touch on some that are good for traveling visitors and others that are good for residents choosing to live in Bangkok.
When traveling to these tennis courts remember to use your navigation app on your phone. I use Google maps and find it to be both accurate and helpful. If you are using Grab, your driver will take care of navigation for you.
Noah BKK@26
Noah BKK is my favorite tennis facility in Bangkok, although it is not the cheapest. They have six tennis courts (four outdoor hard and two indoor synthetic grass). The indoor grass courts are some of the best and most beautiful courts I have ever played on.
For updated pricing check their website. I payed 950 Thai baht for one hour, which included a “knocker” hitting partner, court fee, and ball girl.
Noah BKK’s location is convenient if you are staying near a BTS train terminal. Just hop on and get off at the Phrom Phong station. Then you need to walk approximately 1 kilometer to the courts.
The club offers lessons, clinics, and hitting partners. You can also book a court just to play with a friend(s).
The outdoor courts are in good shape as well. Some of the skyscrapers around there provide some welcomed shade during the middle of the day.
Another nice perk is the café inside Noah BKK. They serve sandwiches and snacks, as well as coffee, water, and sodas.
Public Relations Department Tennis Courts
The Public Relations Department tennis courts are located 1 kilometer from the Ari stop on the Bangkok Train System. I walked to the courts from the train station.
The players there are mostly Thai locals. Levels are complete, ranging from beginner, intermediate, and advanced. English is not well spoken there but they were very welcoming to me.
The best thing about these courts is that you can just show up and play without booking a court. They can be quite busy in the morning and the evening, but matches are played pick-up game style. Just wait your turn and you will get to play multiple matches. The cost is around 50 Baht per day.
There are two playing courts at this facility. The speed of the courts are very fast, with slice and flat shots being very effective. A third court is used occasionally, but mainly serves as a long hitting wall. Up to four people at a time can hit, practice, and warm up on the wall.
There is no bathroom or drinking water at the courts. But, there is a 7-eleven and a gas station about 50 meters away. You can use the bathroom at the gas station for free and go to the 7-eleven if you need drinks.
Simoorgh Tennis Academy
Simoorgh Tennis is another favorite for me because of the location, the friendliness of the staff, reasonable pricing, and the vibe at the courts. If I become a regular in Bangkok, this will probably be my home facility.
They have four outdoor hardcourts that are in good shape. Freelancing coaches and lessons are offered at the club. They have nice bathrooms, a café on site, and plenty of good competition. They prefer it that you book a court in advance to insure having a court, as they can get pretty busy.
I arrived on site and told one of the coaches I was looking for playing partners. He put me in touch with a group of advanced players who play on the weekends.
To get to Simoorgh Tennis Academy take the BTS to the On Nut station, and walk 1km to the courts.
The Racquet Club
I was extremely impressed with the Racquet Club. When I arrived, I expected it to be a tennis facility but it is way more than that. They have racquetball, squash, badminton, swimming pool, yoga and fitness classes, and a fitness gym. Think of it like a YMCA or community center.
The Racquet Club is the best option if you have a family or kids. There is something to keep everyone in your family happy.
The Racquet Club has 7 indoor tennis courts total: 4 located on the third floor and 3 on another building. On my visit, all four courts were in use, which is a good sign that players like it there. They do have tennis hitting partners and coaches for hire.
You can purchase passes that include all amenities, for one day, one week, monthly and yearly. They also have different plans for both single and family. Please refer to their website for updated pricing.
Using the BTS, get off on Phrom Phong train system and walk 1.3 km to the facility. Or instead of walking there are plenty of motorbike taxis (wearing orange vests) that can save you the walk.
APF Academy
APF Academy is directly next door to Noah BKK. At first, I thought they were both part of the same facility, but they are separate facilities and separately operated.
APF is founded by All-Japan tennis champion Hideki Kaneko. One cool thing is that they offer free trial lessons for beginners.
APF only has two courts but they are both covered hard courts and in great shape. At first, they may look similar to The Racquet Club tennis courts, and while they are the same color, I would say APF courts are in better condition.
The courts are open-air covered and make a nice option for rainy weather in Bangkok. They also have two highly credentialed teaching professionals on site. Pricing is similar to Noah BKK@26.
Le Smash Club
In talking to local players, Le Smash Club is a highly recommended tennis club and has 7 outdoor hardcourts. My plans to play there were scratched due to a rainout but I did visit the club and came away impressed.
Impressively, they feature 2 main pros and about 10 assistant teaching pros. They offer tennis clinics at different times during the week, as well as lessons and hitting partners. The also have a pro shop, locker room, spa, and restaurant on site.
The best option for transportation is to use Grab. It is not located conveniently off a train terminal.
Impact Tennis Academy
Impact Tennis Academy is the most prestigious and high-level tennis academy in Bangkok, and probably all of Thailand. Based off their website, they have had some big time professionals train at the club, including: Kevin Anderson, Janko Tipsarevic, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Hyeon Chung, Heather Watson, and Danielle Collins.
Their academy programming has the complete range of programs for all levels, including: professional ATP/WTA training program, ITF training program, junior academy, adults, teams, and beginner/social. And their teaching professionals are prestigiously credentialed.
They have 2 European red clay courts, 6 covered hard courts, and 4 outdoor hard courts. Other amenities include a 3 story gym, ice baths, and recovery room.
Impact Tennis Academy is a great option if you are serious about tennis and looking for a world-class level tennis facility. And it’s a good option if you are living in Bangkok full-time, live near the facility, or just looking to get some short-time instruction (They offer one-week programs too).
The only downside, for me, is that this facility is a far distance (20+ kilometers) from Sukhumvit road and the nearest train system. If you are a tourist in Bangkok and staying near Sukhumvit road, then Impact Tennis will take at least one hour of transportation time by car.
Troops Tennis Academy
Another option if you are looking for a quality tennis academy is Troops Tennis Academy. They have six outdoor hard courts. It has a convenient location off the On Nut train station, and then a 1 kilometer walk.
I visited this club but did not get to play because academy was in session. I was so impressed with the quality of the play that I just sat and watched for one hour.
Tennis Shops in Bangkok
In Bangkok, you will notice that there are a lot of shopping malls. In looking there, I found tennis equipment to be extremely scarce. When I asked local tennis players about this, they mentioned the best option in Bangkok is to order equipment online or by phone. Fortunately, almost all of the tennis facilities sell tennis balls, strings, and stringing services. Only a few sell racquets and shoes.
If you are looking for a particular brand of racquet or shoe, the best option is to contact one of the stores listed below, located in Bangkok, and you can have them deliver it to your hotel/residence.
A list of tennis stores in Bangkok:
Thanks for reading, and I hope this article helped you in your tennis journey in Bangkok!