Tennis courts aren’t hard to find. Most cities have some sort of courts available for public use, although some are in better shape than others. Add in tennis courts at high schools and middle schools, and there are lot of places to play free tennis.

The catch, of course, is that all these free courts are outdoors.

Playing Tennis Outdoors in Winter

In some places, you are not going to play tennis outdoors in winter, no matter how much you want to. Tennis courts covered with ice and snow are not only no fun, but they can also be dangerous. Deliberately sliding on the tennis court to the perfect shot is a lot different than falling on accident when your foot gives way. However, in some locations playing tennis outdoors is just a matter of desire, and maybe a few tricks.

If you live in the southern United States, chances are that your outdoor tennis courts are in good condition and free from ice and snow on most days. In situations like that, playing tennis outdoors in winter is easy. Life in between these two examples is where getting creative can improve your experience with winter tennis.

Pamper the Court

Too many times, tennis is unplayable on an outdoor court because of a small corner of ice or snow. Generally, these problem areas arise from being in the shade of a tree, or the shadow of a court wall. Under these conditions such areas may never fully melt without help. For serious tennis players in need of outdoor courts to play on in winter, pampering the court may be the solution. A few minutes with a snow shovel flinging the unmelting snow and ice out to an area where it will have a chance to melt takes just a few minutes and can make a court playable again. Be sure not to slam down with the shovel or jab fiercely into the ice and snow. You want to move some winter wonder, not bash up your courts.

Another big help in getting courts clear is to remove the wind screens from the courts on the side of the sunshine. While these screens provide a valuable shield from dust and wind in the warmer months, they are a hinderance from melting snow in the winter.

Playing Tennis Indoors in Winter

Obviously, the most desirable way to play tennis in winter is to play indoors. There may be several options for winter indoor tennis depending on where you live. Larger cities are likely to have a parks and recreation district that runs some public indoor courts. The demand for these courts almost always outstrips the supply. Find out how to reserve playing times on the courts. Many indoor clubs use an online system for court reservations. These automated systems will release available reservations at the same time each day, down to the minute. Be logged in and ready to snatch some court reservations at exactly the right time.

Athletic Clubs

Athletic clubs or gyms, or whatever you like to call them, sometimes have indoor tennis courts that you can use in the winter. Check before you apply and pay any money. Not all clubs and gyms have tennis courts available. If they do be sure to check and see how you can get playing time. Tennis court times might be even harder to get at a popular athletic club. See if there is a special tennis membership that can offer an easier way to get court times.

If you have an association with a local university, you can often get a membership to their athletic facilities, which may include indoor tennis courts. Even better, these college tennis memberships tend to be cheaper than memberships at country clubs or tennis clubs. Not all academic indoor tennis courts will be suitable for USTA matches or rankings.

Tennis Clubs in Winter

Obviously, one of the nicest ways to play tennis in the winter is inside a nice tennis club. Demand can still be tricky despite the membership price, so be sure to be ready to strike just like at municipal indoor tennis courts. If you have the money, there may be another advantage. Many tennis clubs give preferential treatment to members willing to pay more for an upgraded membership. As an added bonus, tennis clubs most likely have tennis pros that offer lessons to improve your game as well.

Last Resort

As a last resort, you can jump into one of the indoor racket sports like racquetball or squash to keep up your fitness and agility, as well as how to swing a racket.