Asia – Page 2 – Primal Tennis

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 beginners to intermediates and advanced players. 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 was the language barrier. English is not widely spoken, but there are a few players at each facility who 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. https://youtu.be/uEHfCqpvB_E By the way, do you want to play tennis in Chiang Mai? Check out my guide: Tennis in Chiang Mai, Thailand Guide To Best Courts & Tips Best 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. Remember to use your phone navigation app when traveling to these tennis courts. 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 one of my favorite tennis facilities 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. *Noah BKK's indoor synthetic grass courts For updated pricing, check their website. I paid 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 stay 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 to play with a friend(s). *Noah BKK's outdoor hard courts 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. By the way, I play tennis with Rafael Nadal’s racquet, which is available on Amazon – Babolat Pure Aero Rafa OriginTennis Racquet. Public Relations Department Tennis Courts The Public Relations Department tennis courts are located one 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, which makes it a great place for a local tennis experience. Levels are complete, ranging from beginner, intermediate, and advanced. English is not well spoken there, but they were very welcoming of me. The best thing about these courts is that you can show up and play without booking a court. They can be 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 is very fast, with slice and flat shots being very effective. A third court is used occasionally but mainly functions as an extended hitting wall. Up to four people at a time can hit, practice, and warm up on the wall, for example. 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. By the way, do you want to play tennis in Pattaya? Check out my guide: Pattaya Tennis Guide: Where to Play Tennis and Meet Players. 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. This would probably be my home facility if I became a regular in Bangkok. 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 that you book a court in advance to ensure 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. Want to play with Roger Federer’s new racquet? Try the Wilson RF 01 Pro tennis racket, available on Amazon. 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 seven indoor tennis courts in total: 4 located on the third floor and three on another building. During 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 being single or having a family. Please refer to their website for updated pricing. Using the BTS, get off at the Phrom Phong station 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. Want to try the tennis racquet Novak Djokovic recommends? Check it out on Amazon: Head Auxetic 2.0 Speed Pro Legend Tennis Racquet 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 seven outdoor hardcourts. My plans to play there were scratched due to a rainout, but I visited the club and came away impressed. Impressively, they feature two 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. They also have a pro shop, locker room, spa, and restaurant on site. The best transportation option 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 on 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 a complete range of programs for all levels, including the 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 tennis facility. It’s a good option if you are living in Bangkok full-time, live near the facility, or are 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 to travel 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 the 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 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: CV Tennis Shop Dr. Racket Future Sport Things To Do In Bangkok Bangkok has a lot to offer for visitors. In fact, on a yearly basis, it is one of the most visited cities in the entire world. For newcomers, visiting the Royal Palace and taking a canal boat ride are must-do activities. I highly recommend you browse all the fantastic activities available on Viator: Must-Do Bangkok Adventure, Tours, & Excursions. ***** Thanks for reading, and I hope this article helped you in your tennis journey in Bangkok!