Down the Lines Blog

Being in the tennis industry for a few years now, I've met some pretty awesome tennis people.  I've found that tennis stringers are an entirely different breed unto themselves.  Strings and a good stringer are just about everything, especially as you get older and start dealing with wrist or elbow issues.  A good stringer can act like a therapist for your on-court woes, and can offer you key advice on what strings to use, what tension to string them your rackets and beyond.  I wanted to share a unique list with you... with a mix of the major shops as well as the more mom-and-pop stringers you wouldn't normally know about.  Here's my go-to guide to the best stringing shops across L.A. 1. The Tennis Garage: (Mar Vista) Why it stands out: Local Business – Operated out of his garage in beautiful Mar Vista, owner Paul Cochrane knows tennis! .  Paul is an awesome stringer and is very knowledgable on what strings and tensions you should be using based on your hitting style, frames and ailments.  Same‑day while‑you‑wait service Tennis-focused gear: Partnership demos (e.g. Wilson, Head, Babolat, Yonex). Customer love: Hanging with Paul!  He even has fruit trees growing in the yard, so grab an orange while you wait  ____________________________________________________________ 2.The Racket Doctor (Atwater Village) Why it stands out: Legacy & expertise – Serving SoCal since 1970, this is L.A.’s premier stringing shop Same‑day while‑you‑wait service by certified stringers. Tennis-focused gear: Partnership demos (e.g. Wilson, Head, Babolat, Yonex). Customer love: called “LA’s #1 OG expert pro shop” with killer selection Why it matters for Ace The Moon readers:A trusted choice for reliability, pro-level tuning, and access to premium gear — ideal for performance-focused players. 2. The Tennis Ace (Studio City) Why it stands out: Family-owned since 1996, led by ex-pro Bruce Man‑Son‑Hing  Rapid service with a personal touch. Full-service rackets, regripping, and apparel from popular brands Great for Studio City locals seeking quality and convenience. 3. Santa Monica Tennis Center (Santa Monica) Why it stands out: Full-service pro shop with custom-built stringing and same‑day turnaround santamonicatenniscenter.com. Uses HEAD 3‑in‑1 machine: measures weight, balance, swing‑weight—perfect for fine tuning. Competitive prices  Ideal for Ace The Moon readers:Offers quick, precise service near the beach — perfect when playing a few sets at Palisades Park or Clover Park. 4. Jem Strings (Alhambra) Why it stands out   Tips for Choosing the Right Stringing Experience Want pro-level precision? Go with Racket Doctor or Santa Monica — their gear and certified techs are top-tier. Looking for speed and ease? Tennis Ace offers friendly regional access, while A1 Stringing saves you a trip altogether. Special requests? Always ask about string types available (poly, natural gut, hybrid) and any diagnostics (swing‑weight/balance). Closing Thoughts In L.A.’s sprawling landscape, there’s no one-size-fits-all for racket stringing. Whether you prefer traditional shops with pro stringers, quick-turnaround local favorites, or the convenience of a mobile tech at your court, these top options have you covered. Keep your game sharp — and your racket sharper.

My name is Orun, and I'm excited to write another blog for Ace the Moon.  My Tennis Journey I sat down at a café in Los Angeles recently with Josh, the founder of Ace the Moon. We started talking about how we both got into the game of tennis, and coaching. With that conversation, I started to reflect on my journey from being a junior player to where I am today as a student at UCLA and a tennis teaching professional.  I was 12 years old when I first held a tennis racket in my hands. At that time, I was living close to Tokyo, and I never participated in competitive sports, except for skiing. Skiing was my sport, but it was seasonal and I felt the need for another sport that I could play year-round. Kei Nishikori, a Japanese player, was dominating the men’s tour. He had reached the final of the 2014 US Open, climbing the ranking ladder all the way to number four. With admiration for Kei, I took a trial lesson at a local tennis academy. Not knowing that you typically hit forehands with one hand, I started swinging the racket like a baseball bat. I loved every single minute on the court. I felt a connection that was different from other sports I had played. Something about the mixture of elegance of the game and competitiveness drew me in.  Meeting Kei Nishikori was surely a highlight of my early tennis years. The Dawn of Coaching I kept playing tennis. After moving back to the States, I hit the courts hard. In high school, however, I came across a turning point. With my passion for the sport and my experience of academic tutoring at my school, I took up the offer to be an assistant tennis coach. It was not an academy or a club, but rather, a small after-school program. Being a teenager and getting a taste of the professional industry, it was a great learning experience for me. As much as I enjoyed playing, the experience taught me that I much prefer to coach. I became a tennis professional at an academy and a club while I was a teenager, which compared to many in the industry, I was on the younger side. It was not easy but it was very fun and exhilarating. Working with participants who are twice my age or even older felt uneasy at first, but believing in myself has allowed me to bring out my passion for coaching. There are several coaches that I look up to, and consider to be my role models: Tom Hill, Patrick Mouratoglou, and James Trotman. They are all coaches for ATP and WTA players. Tom Hill, who currently works with the American rising star Peyton Stearns, coached Danielle Collins and previously, Maria Sakkari.  Despite being new to coaching, Hill successfully brought Collins and Sakkari to be the top-level players they are today. Mouratoglou, who now coaches former number one, Naomi Osaka, has this unmatched energy and charisma when he's on the court. Many might be familiar with him for his coaching videos on social media. Trotman, who has been with the young British star Jack Draper, helps his players with a calm tone, reassuring players.  Despite having differences in their experiences and the background in how they came to be coaches, one thing is consistent: They are all dynamic with their feedback. Watching practice footage and the coach/player relationships in person has allowed me to observe that the way they approach coaching is "spirited." Whether giving feedback after almost every single shot or during breaks, you can clearly see that their attitude is “for the players.” These three coaches set the example to be "next level" and this is the kind of coaching practice that I have looked up to over the years. Having been a teaching professional for the past five years, I see myself getting closer to becoming a coach on the pro circuit.  Meeting James Trotman, coach of Jack Draper  I'd like to describe my coaching style as “active.” While many coaches may prefer to stand on the sidelines, feeding balls and giving feedback in between points or rallies, I like to be involved. I actively play with or against them, and provide feedback. It doesn't matter whether it is a private lesson or a big group, I will get involved in the drills or games. If it is a feeding drill, of course, that is a different story; we are talking about doing 2-versus-1 drills with the participants, joining a group of three to do a game of “Dingles,” and that sort. For me, it is more fun when your coach is playing in, rather than being on the sidelines. Something I learned from my long-term mentor was, “If you are having fun as a coach, then your students will, too.”  His statement proves my point. I am having so much fun playing with the participants, and so do they. Dedication, Commitment, and Permanent Learning Process Just a few weeks ago, I met Naomi Osaka and Patrick Mouratoglou as they were preparing for the 2025 season. I had a chance to talk with both of them, and I mentioned to Patrick that I look up to him, and followed up by asking him, “What does it take to be a great coach like you?” to which he responded: “It takes dedication, commitment, and a permanent learning process. Believe in yourself, and good luck in the process.” Just like a lot of things in life, for coaching, the key is to be open-minded. You have to be willing to try out new approaches. I discovered that “active” style of mine after trial and error, and I am still experimenting with new styles. The goal is to work through challenges together with your players, not to impose your views. Standing alongside the player, not far from them – both literally and figuratively. Adapting as required, not rigidly following “the protocol.” The commitment to the notion of “being there for the player,” combined with flexibility, is what it takes to be your ideal coach.  Meeting Patrick Mouratoglou! Meeting Naomi Osaka! 

As I am traveling back to the east coast this week for the US Open, and to visit my family in Connecticut, I started to reflect on my early years of tennis.     Let me take you back.  It was February of 1992, New England. It was a typical, cold and dreary day in Southern Connecticut, with a chance of 3 feet of snow.  My mom dropped me off, as she always did every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon at the old Trumbull Racquet Club. As I got out of her Chevy Caprice station wagon with my trusty Prince Precision Graphite, I walked through those doors to a warm and friendly place, filled with good green vibes.   I have such fond memories of that club. The wall-to-wall green speckled carpeting, those cozy couches in the lounge area. Photos of tennis legends and club members hanging on the walls.  Tennis was of course always playing on the TV. Like most east coast indoor tennis clubs in its day, there were those plexi glass walls overlooking the tennis courts on both sides. I remember you had to sort of walk down a couple steps, through a narrow hallway, and lift up the tarp to get out onto the courts.  Neon felty fuzzy goodness everywhere.  The club’s director, Dave Fowler, and this young curly blonde haired coach, Andy Jorgenson, were just the best guys. Dave always had a big smile on his face, he was always happy to see me, and I just remember him being very nice and engaging with me.  Andy was this really cool, mellow dude. I always wanted to be playing on Andy's court, as he was just so friggin' cool.  I was doing a little digging on Dave, and was saddened to read that he passed recently.  I dug up this old article in the New York Times  about his coaching, helping improve strokes and lives.  This photo pretty much sums Dave up: Jovial, engaging, warm and friendly.  Long time Connecticut Tennis Coach and Director, Dave Fowler.  I was just one of thousands of kids those guys taught, many of which went on to play high school and college tennis. Those guys were also instrumental in the success of another Fairfield County, CT. kid:  James Blake.    You can say I was "J-Block Adjacent", knowing not only Andy and Dave, but also being friends and high school teammates with Evan Paushter.  Evan was at one time James' hitting partner, and are close friends to this day. Tennis Coach, Andy Jorgenson, seen in front row of The J -Block (hat on, clapping hands).  As for my high school years, Dave and Andy prepped me nicely.  I made it on the varsity squad my freshman year at Joel Barlow High School, in Redding, CT. Oh wait, we only had one team:) For a small school in Southwestern Connecticut, we sure had some bangers on that team, lead by Evan at #1 singles.  We had an amazing female coach, Razan Zia. I tended to be a bit rebellious, maybe lazy at times and she knew how to handle me... How to motivate me. I was a pretty good player, and mainly played 1st and 2nd doubles, winning almost every one of our matches. I made it on the singles squad for a hot minute, but was quickly booted by some young studs.   I am the one wearing the tie dye (wow, nothing has changed since high school!).  Evan is kneeling, right in front of me in the black and white striped windbreaker.   Looking back, I was sort of fortunate I didn't take tennis all that seriously or competitively.  I played on club and intramural teams in college (Indiana University).  I never played enough where I got burned out, like some of my peers did, and have gotten better and somehow became a tennis coach in Los Angeles in my mid-40's.   So, thank you Dave and Andy for keeping things cool and loose.  I try to live my life that way, and are the core values of what Ace the Moon is all about. This one goes out to Dave and Andy, and all you tennis coaches out there.  Love ya~ Oh, and as every good blog should link to a product, our Bubble tee was inspired by the Old Trumbull Racquet Club.  All net proceeds for this tee will go to the James Blake Foundation ~Josh

Tennis fashion has been all the rage these past few years.  Major brands like LuluLemon, Alo and Wilson have gone all-in on tennis inspired apparel and accessories lines.  Vintage tennis fashion has also made a bigtime resurgence. Whether it's the classic knit sweaters with the green striped ribbing, or the beefy oversized graphic tees and sweatshirts, it's "love-all" for the vintage tennis look. For this blog, we collabed with our friends at Vintage Court Collection and curated a top ten list of super rad vintage pieces.  If you are heading to the US Open this year, or maybe putting on a vintage tennis themed watch party with your friends, this blog is for you! #1:)  1998 "Art by McEnroe Heineken T-Shirt (Rare!) We've always known Johnny Mac was a rock star and one of our favorite people on the planet.  We didn't know he was an artist.  This tee just rocks!  #2) 1989 McEnroe/Agassi Maple Leaf Gardens T-Shirt Wow wow this tee is a rare gem.  Two American legends facing off at the 3rd  annual "Proctor Silex Tennis Classic in Toronto.   #3)  1987 UCLA Tennis Camp T-Shirt One of our absolute favorite brands of the 80's and 90's is Chip & Pepper, and it's so great to see their resurgence. This tee has that super soft, worn in feel that only a true vintage tee gives off.    #4) Vintage 1995 Fila US Open tee  We love this oversized tee.  1995 was also an epic year for American tennis, where Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in 4 sets.  #5) Vintage Nike Challenge Sweatshirt It may start to get a little chilly by the second week at The Open.  You may want to consider bringing this killer sweatshirt!   #6) Expert Tennis Patched Hat  Protect yo! heads with this upcycled vintage patch on our classic trucker hat.  This vintage patch will make you the expert tennis player you've always wanted to be!   #7) Official Bjorn Borg Fila Sweatpants  Move like Borg in these iconic sweatpants.  The legendary Swede is still as handsome as ever.      #8) 1993 Minnesota State Boys Championship Tee  This 90's retro graphic just crushes it, on and off the courts.     #9) 1990's Vintage Fila Jacket  This classic women's jacket is perfect for those cooler nights out on the courts or the roller derby.  We love this so friggin' much.   #10) Duke Children's Tennis Dad Hat  This classic hat is also for a good cause!

Tennis in Los Angeles is dynamic.  There are tons of public parks to play in all over the city.  That said, finding the right tennis coach and getting into the right group clinics can often be a bit trickier. So, I wanted to make it a bit easier for all of you tennis enthusiasts who live in Los Angeles, or are traveling here and want to book a session with a pro. This helpful guide should hopefully navigate you through the LA tennis coaching world.  We are only including reputable coaches on this list. That means coaches who are either certified instructors and carry permits for the courts they teach on.   Lisa Filpi: Lisa is a certified USTPA Pro who provides private and group lessons to all ages and skill levels.  She teaches at both the Vermont Canyon Tennis Courts and the Riverside.  (m): 323-573-4230 (e) lafilpi@gmail.com (w) filpitennis.com  Instagram   Pete Fox:  Pete is a long-standing instructor in Santa Monica. He teaches all ages, skill levels, as well as private and group lessons.  Pete runs many of the "community classes" for Santa Monica.  He's what we call a "coaches coach", and an all around awesome guy!  (m): 310-966-0277 (e) pete@petefoxtennis.com (w) petefoxtennis.com   Celia Quintero: Celia teaches all ages and skill levels.  She teaches mainly at the Barrington Rec Center Courts in Brentwood, as well as private courts throughout Los Angeles  (m): 323-573-4230 (e) celia@cqsports.consulting (w) cq-sports.com Social: @cece_q@cq_sports ; @glowballsports   Matt Osterberg Matt is a skilled tennis pro, teaching all ages and skill levels.  His sweet spot is adults and competitive juniors.  He teaches at Beverly Hills Tennis Center, Le Parc Hotel, The Montrose and other private courts.  (m): 231-622-1621 (e) contact@vintagecourtcollection.com instangram.com/matthewwosterberg   Erika Bond: Erika is a super star in the LA tennis world.  She teaches mainly at iTennis in Pasadena, though also does privates and groups throughout the city (mainly on the east side and in South Los Angeles.  She also is the Founder of All Love Racquet Club, a Black-owned tennis social group that runs tennis events nationwide.  (m): 404-579-1692 (e): erikabond08@gmail.com Socials: @thenameisbondd Jem Kogen Hailing from the great state of Massachusetts, Jem has been a certified professional by the USPTA for over 10 years. of all ages and skill levels.  He mainly coaches on the east side of town, through itennis in Pasadena.  He welcomes all ages and skill levels to reach out. He is also an expert tennis stringer, so hit him up for all of your racket needs.  (m): 914-419-4908 (e): jemkogen@gmail.com (w): jemkogentennis.com  Chris Robb: Chris is a lifelong tennis teacher, tennis director and all around lover of the game.  He teaches all ages and skill levels, though his sweetspot is mostly adults.  You can find him teaching all over the city, including his home base in the Pacific Palisades, as well as throughout the east side at Griffith Park and Herman Park in South Pasadena.   (m): 310-428-3777 (e) chris@tennisisalifestyle.com Facebook Page    Gabriel Schwartz Hailing from the streets of New York, Gabriel teaches all ages and skill levels.  He is a permitted instructor in Santa Monica.   (m): 310-728-0664 (e) beverlyhillstennispro.com Thomas Ryu  A Nor-Cal native, Thomas has 10-years teaching experience and teaches all ages and skill levels.  You can usually find him teaching on the westside, in Santa Monica as well at private courts in Playa del Ray. (m): 408-505-2124 (e): thomasryu9@gmail.com Anna Kynclova Hailing from the Czech Republic, Anna always brings the great energy and vibes whenever she's on the court.  She teaches all ages and skill levels, and mainly teaches on the west side of town in Culver City and Santa Monica.  (m): 424-278-3677 Instagram Manny Fortune: Manny is an expert tennis coach and fitness instructor.  He teaches all ages and skill levels, as well as competitive juniors.   (m): 323-979-8114 (e): fortunetennis@gmail.com (w): fortunetennis.com  Socials: Instagram  Josh Gettler: East coast forehands, west coast backhands.  After many years of living and working in NYC, Josh moved west and became a tennis coach.  Josh is a permitted instructor in Santa Monica.  His sweet spot are adults in private or group lessons. (m): 917-304-9279 (e): jwgnyc@gmail.com (w): joshtennis.com

Welcome to my first Ace the Moon blog! My name is Orun, and I am a tennis professional based in Northern California.  For my first Ace the Moon blog contribution, I wanted to write about the best forehands on both the ATP and the WTA Tours.  The forehand is expected to be the number one weapon for tennis players, but there are several professional players who stand out amongst the rest, in my opinion, take it to the next level.  Let’s go through my picks. 1) Rafael Nadal With his signature “buggy whip” forehand, the “king of clay” creates an immense amount of topspin on his forehand. Combined with the bounce on a clay court, Rafa’s opponents often have a hard time hitting the ball at the optimal contact point. The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s inside-out forehand is a scary weapon, too!   2) Carlos Alcaraz   Often called “the next Rafa,” Carlos Alcaraz has already proven to be one of the most aggressive players the tennis world has seen. At 20-years young, and with his intense power, Carlos swings his opponents side to side, creating opportunities for not only tons of winners off his forehand, but drop shots and volleys.    3) Iga Świątek This four-time Grand Slam champion, at just 22 years old, has been dominating the tour. Iga’s famous, 37-match win streak in 2022, has made her climb up the rankings ladder and has made her a superstar. With a compact forehand swing accompanied by high RPM on the ball, her game is fast-paced, and becomes an obstacle for many players. It doesn’t hurt that she is a fellow Tecnifibre user!  4) Jennifer Brady  Currently taking a hiatus from the WTA Tour to focus on her coaching career at UCLA, Brady has always struck me as a phenomenal forehand-hitter. Known for the high RPM on her forehand, she made it into the semi-final of the US Open in 2020, followed by her appearance at the 2021 Australian Open Final. Some have compared her forehand to that of Rafa, noting the similarity in the power and spin. Brady has a larger takeback on her forehand side compared to most other WTA players, efficiently and effectively adding power to her wicked game. 5) Andrey Rublev Known for hitting tennis balls as if he is mad at them, Rublev hits a massive forehand. Despite hitting the ball so hard, he manages to keep the ball in play by hitting it early. It’s quite challenging to observe it unless you pause the TV as he is about to swing his racket. You will see that he likes to hit the ball on the rise, making it harder for his opponents to maintain the rhythm.  Who else do you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

We are totally stoked, and humbled to make it on tennis.com annual holiday gift guide.   Two of our best sellers made the list:  Our tennis nomad hoodies and our Score Tube Sweats.  

Our favorite slogan, "You miss 100% of the aces you don't serve", rings true for this blog.  When we were first starting out, I took a serve in the dark and sent a LinkedIn email to Tennis Warehouse founder and CEO, Drew Munster.   I told him what a big fan I am of Tennis Warehouse and how I'd love to establish a relationship with them.  Unlike 99% of my "blind emails" which go unresponded to, Drew actually wrote me back. He told me he thinks our stuff is cool and he will pass along our info to the apparel buying team. Fast forward two-plus years, our relationship with Tennis Warehouse has flourished. TW carries over 25 of our products and continues to order from us. Our page can be found here: www.tennis-warehouse.com/Ace_The_Moon/catpage-ATM.html We were also just featured on Tennis Warehouse's own podcast, The Talk Tennis Podcast, hosted by the amazing Michelle Heidbrink.  Click here to watch the full episode:  https://youtu.be/RZ6rPTiknFQ or watch the video below. Lastly, we were featured on Tennis Warehouse Small Business highlights here:  https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Learning_Center/Gear_Guides/tennis_apparel/small-business-highlight.html  

Being from Connecticut, and having spent most of my adult life living in New York City, you can say I have east coast roots.  One of the things I miss most about the east coast are summers in the Hamptons, and specifically Montauk, which is on the tip of Long Island.   I spent many a summer in my 20's and 30's "out east" as they say, living in share houses, and playing tennis in backyards all over the Hamptons, from Quogue to East Hampton, and all the way out to Montauk.  Coming back for the first time this summer since before the pandemic, it is great to see that tennis is still very much alive and doing quite well.  Like a lot of the courts in the north east, tennis in the Hamptons is mostly played on Har-Tru courts.  After playing on exclusively hard courts these past few years in Los Angeles, the Har Tru was a nice change for me...I'd say a bit easier on the joints and a slightly slower game.  In this blog, I'll take you on a guided tour of the Hamptons, hitting up some great courts, delicious après tennis eats and awesome places to shop.   Where We Played: Hither Hills Racquet Club: Driving east towards Montauk and past the Village of Amagansett, you will hit Hither Hills Racquet Club.  There, you will be greeted by club owner Molly Hayden and her precious baby, Farah.  HHRC has 5 great, outdoor Har-Tru courts.  HHRC has both membership and non-membership options.  We played in a Friday morning clinic with Long Island native tennis coach, Garrett Mallave.  Unlike Los Angeles, where clubs predominately play Liveball, HHRC runs a lot of "105", which in our opinion, is an equally as good cardio tennis game.  The object of the game is to get your team to 105 points.  Winning points = 1 point. Ground stroke winners = 5 points. Volley winners = 10 points and overhead winners = 20 points.  So be aggressive, and get to the net! The overall vibe at the club is super chill, laid back and very much Cali vibes. Montauk and Cali definitely share a similar vibe in general.  Molly and team also run tennis operations up the road at Montauk Yacht Club . Definitely go check them out and hit some balls!  Owner, Molly Hayden, with her new born cutie, Farah.  Chief Stringer and coach Sophia Folgia, and head coach, Garrett Malave.  East Hampton Indoor Tennis aka EHIT, is a year-round tennis club holding 20 outdoor courts and 6 indoor courts.  You guessed it, all Har-Tru. The club has both membership and non-membership options, a great snack bar, pro shop and even bowling lanes. The vibes here are also very laid back, and is an amazing facility in the heart of East Hampton.   Where We Ate:  The Hamptons and Montauk are of course filled with great eats, from fine dining to more casual beach side clam bars.  We wanted to mix it up by revisiting some places we hadn't been to in a while, and also tried out some new spots.   For pre-tennis coffee, we hit up both Hamptons Coffee Company and The Golden Pear.  The both have multiple locations out east.  We fell in love with the super fresh coffee at Hamptons Coffee Co.  The yogurt parfait and coffee cake are delicious!  The Golden Pear has been in the Hamptons for 35 years.  Everything is divine here and in our opinion, a must go-to when out east.  We shared a "Spa Wrap" at the East Hampton location.   Post Tennis Brunch at Goldberg's Bagels.  You don't have to go very far to come across a Goldberg's location, as they have planted their everything bagel seeds in every town across the Hamptons.  Goldberg's is famous for their "flagel", a flat bagel.  We'd recommend getting the famous "Spicy Hobo Breakfast", which includes 2 eggs, bacon on a bagel of your choice. You may see Katie Couric or other Hamptons celebs noshing.  Lunch: Bostwick's Chowder House is another Hampton's institution.  Get there early as this place gets very busy on the weekends.  We thoroughly enjoyed our picks of New England Clam Chowder and Ahi Poke Tacos...which by the way, are no longer on the menu, but we asked for them, and they delivered!  Dinner: South Edison  has been a popular Montauk eatery for a long time now, with heavy crowds on the weekends.  Since we were visiting during the week, we were able to get right in for dinner.  Everything we ate was delicious and an explosion of new flavors to our palettes.  Late Night Eats: John's Drive-In in Montauk has been around for nearly 50 years. John's is a slice of 1960's Americana, serving up beachside treats like ice cream, chicken fingers and amazing burgers.   Where We Shopped: Tennis Shops: There are two main tennis shops in the Hamptons- Tennis East in Southampton and Set Point Tennis in East Hampton.  Both shops are upscale, carrying all the major brands as well as serving your racket stringing needs.   Some notable specialty boutiques:  We loved Bontemps and Mainstay in Montauk.  Both shops carry Montauk and Hampton-themed clothing and accessories, but in different ways.   Specialty Boutiques, Blue & Cream and Xanadu carry some great brands such as Free City, Mother and Sundry.  So, if you are heading out east this summer, we hope you get some great tennis, eating and shopping in.  Although we have amazing beaches in Los Angeles, we do miss the gorgeous beaches of the Hamptons and Montauk.  We'll be back soon! 

One of the best things about Ace the Moon for me, is getting ingrained in the local tennis community, and getting to know some really great tennis coaches in Los Angeles.  Lisa Filpi and I connected pretty early on in Ace the Moon's journey.  She was organizing a tennis retreat to La Quinta Resort & Club, and came to me with wanting to design some custom apparel and swag for her tennis students.  As we rolled up our sleeves and developed a game plan, I knew right away the kind of person I was dealing with...a person who's highly intelligent, detail oriented, truly genuine, and passionate about teaching tennis.   We designed some really great hats and tees for Lisa's retreat that evoked a cool desert-like vibe, and they were a big hit amongst Lisa's players.  Since, Lisa and I have collaborated on hosting a round robin tournament at Vermont Canyon Tennis this past month, and Ace the Moon was fortunate enough to custom design tees and hats for the event.  I sat with Lisa and her adorable Golden Retriever, Sandy. Here are some highlights of our conversation:  Josh: When and how did you get into tennis teaching?  Lisa: Oh boy, it started years ago at the age of 16 when I became a Junior Counselor at what was then the Adidas Tennis Camps, now Nike Tennis Camps in Lake Tahoe, CA. Josh: What do you love the most about teaching?  Lisa: Watching how "my players" grow and develop in the sport and in life. Josh: How would you describe your style of coaching?  Lisa: A client of mine the other day said, "Lisa, you're always teaching us something but never hitting us over the head with it."  So maybe that's it? Josh: Where can people find you?  Lisa: In the mornings I work off the Riverside Drive courts in the Los Feliz area and in the afternoons you can find me at the Vermont Canyon courts in Griffith Park.  This location is the inspiration for our latest merch! Here is my website and Instagram as well.  Josh: Do you get into pro tennis and who are your favorite players on the tour?  Lisa: Yes I do to a certain degree.  Right now I'm a big fan of Sabalenka, Svitolina and Medvedev when he's not whining.  Also Frances Tiafoe, Jannick Sinner and most Italians are favorites:) Josh: Who is your all time fave tennis player and why?  Lisa: Bjon Borg - style, class & grace... says it all. Josh: Will you be hosting any more events or retreats in the near future?  Lisa: Definitely!  I'm hosting another retreat at the La Quinta Resort and Spa in the Fall and more events at the Vermont Canyon courts to come. Thanks so much Josh for your collaboration, contribution to the Tennis world and this interview!      

We love our hats over here at Ace the Moon HQ. Most of the hats we have brought out into the universe so far have been tennis trucker hats, which are lightweight and made of foam, with mesh backing. Trucker hats can serve multiple purposes, from style to comfort, and can definitely be worn both on and off the courts.   If you are playing in extreme heat, or for long periods of time, we'd say you may want to go with more of a performance, sweat wicking material.   We'll be introducing some really great performance tennis hats very soon, as well as bucket hats and visors.  In the meantime, we polled some of our inner circle, and asked them what their go-to hats are for the tennis and pickleball courts.  Here's what they had to say:  Our co-Founder, Deena, loves the Women's Fast & Free Running Hat by LuluLemon .  These hats are classic, simple and so lightweight that you don't feel anything on your head.   Chloe, our social media coordinator and awesome college tennis player prefers the Nike Men's Feather Adjustable Hat as well as the Lacoste Roland Garros 2023 Tennis Cap.   Similar to Deena, Chloe loves these hats because they are lightweight and made of super soft material. They fit her head seamlessly.   Ace the Moon brand ambassador and avid tennis player, Valerie Andrus has a couple of faves.   Our dear tennis friend and long time LA tennis coach, Lisa Filpi, likes to wear baseball caps that are in a "dad hat" shape.  She loves these dad hat style tennis hats because they not only protect her face, but a lot of the designs on her hats have special meanings, and give her a mental lift.   The most awesome, Valerie Andrus of Tennis City Guide gave us her thoughts on hats for both on and off the court.  Here is what she told us:    Hi! I love a good trucker, and Ace the Moon has the best fit and designs in the tennis world. I live in them, whether I'm on the court, on the beach, or just living life. If I'm playing serious tennis, I like a more sport specific hat like the Nike Court Aerobill. The brim is a little more rounded and keeps the sun out of my eyes.  Across the board, I like a high crown hat. You know, the large forehead issue    So, the cactus hats that Restless has is sort of like a combination of a trucker and athletic hat. It has a cool trucker feel, but in a performance material with venting. I really like them.    We'll be sure to keep you guys posted when we have some of our new hats and headwear ready to go.  In the meantime, and as we get into the summer months, protect your heads and wear a hat!    

Are you guys as clueless as we are about racket stringing? There seems to be endless options to choose from when it comes to stringing brands...Do you go with a synthetic or a gut string? What's this with stringing two types of strings on the same racket? Oh, and how 'bout the tension?   I don't know about you, but all of this gives me tension and feeling strung out!  So, I set out on a journey and went four blocks from my place to the Santa Monica Tennis Center, where I spent some quality time with stringing maestro, Ricky Ibara.  Ricky has established a reputation as LA's go-to racket stringer, having been head stringer at Racket Doctor, and now comfortably at home at Santa Monica TC. Watching Ricky in his groove, I couldn't help but notice how much dexterity he has with his hands, and how quickly he moves around the racket head.  So I said:  Josh: Ricky, look at those magic hands.  Let me see those hands! How long does it take you to string a racquet with those magic hands of yours, and how many racquets are you stringing a day on average? Ricky: (With a Big Ricky Smile) About 20 minutes to 30 minutes and I am stringing about 20 a day.  Josh: Ok, so talk to me. Let me give you an example... I just dug this old Wilson Hammer up out of my parent's garage. Can I still play with this beast? What do you recommend stringing-wise?  Ricky: For starters, thanks for keeping the racket alive.  Bring it back. As long as there's no cracks, no breaks, you can still use it.  I'd say you want to use a string that was alive in that era, like a synthetic gut, or a nylon which is still around these days...But maybe you want something with more give, more flex, more comfort for the player...which is always a great thing, never a bad thing.  I'd also recommend you string at the lower end of the recommended tension since it is on the older side.  You don't want to go too high on a synthetic gut with an older racket. Josh: Awesome, thank you for those suggestions.  So, I am looking at this gorgeous new Babolot you are stringing up now.  A new racquet like this one, give me a sense of what are you stringing it with, and what do you recommend tension- wise?  Ricky: A lot of it will depend on the player.  Are we looking at a big hitter or someone just coming on the scene, but wants to use this racket because they feel it suits them and their game? I would say go with an all around string, like a synthetic gut, still might do the trick here.  If we know they are going to break it right away because they are a really big hitter, I'll ease them into a polyester string which gives them greater durability, a great feel and will suit them best for their game.  A thinner gauge string will provide more spin but less durability.  Thicker strings will provide way more durability, but they may lose feeling or the string may die.  Josh: Amazing. I feel like I am getting it now!  So tension-wise, recommendations for stringing up a new model racket?  Ricky: I like to guide people towards the middle, no matter what string you are using. Start in the middle, even if it's with a string you are not familiar with.  After that first try, you will guide yourself.  Should you go lower for more pop, higher for more control. Lower tension will provide a more balanced "rubber-bandy" feel.  A higher tension as more pull, but will allow for less give.   Josh: Tell me a little about cross stringing.  When you take two different kinds of strings and string them on the same racket.   Ricky: Yes. Great for all around players, or really anyone who is just starting off.  You never know what someone is going through on the court or how someone's arm may be feeling.  So recommending a hybrid string does allow for #1 use two different kind of strings and experiment a little bit, and #2 also get the best of both worlds...you get spin and durability from your poly string maybe on the mains, up and down or the crosses...Or maybe you get that nice comfort from the multi- filament of the crosses which provides an extra plush.  Josh:  Thank you so much Ricky!  Let's go hit some balls! Guys, go see Ricky and the Santa Monica Tennis Center for your racket and stringing needs.  Additionally, here some helpful links to help decide what string is best for you:  Best Tennis Strings 2023 by Tennis Warehouse 10 + Best Tennis Strings  by Jon Crim at Tennis Companion Solinco Strings  - Hyper G, Co-Poly String  You Tube Video - Top Five Strings 2023 by PH Tennis     

Coming out of a great tourney at Indian Wells these past couple of weeks, the notion of "Tennis Friends" kept running through my brain.   Walking around the grounds, I couldn't help but observe all the tennis friends in attendance.  From what appeared to be doubles groups, to club friends and the little kiddie groups, they all have one thing in common- they are tennis friends.  And, that's pretty cool.  As I feel we are at a time in the world where it's just super hard to meet and connect with people organically or genuinely, tennis has been my main avenue to meet people. Since moving to LA three years ago, most, if not all of my friendships have been made through tennis.   There is just something about the act of hitting a ball with or against another person.  How everything's exposed. We reveal a lot about ourselves by the way we play...maybe we reveal everything. Our strengths, our weaknesses, our moods and demeanor. There's a shortcut to friendship that's created when you play tennis with someone.  All the small talk and getting to know someone is skipped. For me, my best tennis friends are the ones that I can spar with.  It's not about hitting winners, or even playing matches, but more about keeping a point alive as long as we can.  Kinda like a great band jamming, and seeing where the riffs can go.   I have been fortunate to have made great tennis friends at pretty much every stage in my life.  Now that I am in my mid-40's, I find myself playing with people 20 to 30 years older and younger than me.  Ace the Moon has provided me with a unique avenue to make so many new tennis friends, and that is one of the things that keeps me going. Tennis friends also come in all shapes, sizes and genders...and looks can often be deceiving.  I am looking forward to playing lots more tennis with all my tennis friends.  One of our main thoughts and goals for Ace the Moon was to create a platform where people can meet and play tennis...To build a community around our shared love of tennis.  We created the community page in an effort to connect people of the same skill level and location. Check it out and sign up: acethemoon.com/pages/community Additionally, our Tennis Friends hats have struck a chord with a lot of you guys.  Just so you know, they will always be 20% off with code TF20.  We also have these hats available on Amazon.  Here is the link: www.amazon.com/db/bobm2dr7dn ~Josh

Shopping for a new tennis racquet can be overwhelming. There are nearly a dozen brands to choose from, each with different models, and to make it even more complicated, each model typically has three or more versions. Below, I’ll help make the process of purchasing a tennis racquet easier. This is going to help you to quickly eliminate racquets that are not a good fit for you so you can narrow it down to the right choice. For most tennis players, you only need to honestly answer three questions before shopping. What is your skill level? How physically fit and athletic are you? What are your tennis goals? Let’s go through each question and why it’s important for choosing a racquet. What is your skill level in tennis? Your current ability will give us a good place to start your search. I like to place tennis players into three categories. Beginners: New to our sport, or maybe only played a few times but want to start taking it seriously. Intermediate: Been playing for a little while and starting to control the ball more easily. Or maybe you played tennis a long time ago and want to start again. This is typically a USTA 3.0 to 4.0 rated player (see ratings here). Advanced: You’re a serious tennis player who plays regularly and can move the ball around the court comfortably. Players with a USTA rating of 4.0 or higher. Your skill level should determine several specifications to look for in a racquet. Beginners need a larger head size, which can be more forgiving when they don’t hit the ball in the center. More advanced players can play with smaller frames because they are more likely to hit the sweet spot (middle of the strings) consistently. Beginners also use lightweight racquets that are easier to maneuver while advanced players use heavy racquets that offer better stability against faster shots. Here are some general guidelines you can follow when looking for a tennis racquet. There are exceptions to this, however, which I’ll cover below. Beginner Intermediate Advanced Head size in square inches 100 – 115 98 – 105 93 – 100 Weight Under 11 Ounces 10.1 – 11.5 Ounces Over 11 Ounces How physically fit and athletic are you? When answering this question, consider your age, physical strength, mobility, and hand-eye coordination. If, for example, you’re a fit 25-year-old who plays basketball and runs regularly, then you’ll be able to choose a smaller, slightly heavier racquet even if you are a beginner. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are 65 years old and just had a knee replacement, you’ll probably want a larger, lightweight racquet regardless of your skill level. Answer this question for yourself and adjust the specifications you’ll need accordingly. What are your tennis goals? Think about where you want your tennis game to be in one year. Are you trying to get bumped up to the next USTA rating level? Do you just want to be able to occasionally compete with your friends at the local club? Is this your first time playing and you aren’t quite sure you’ll even like tennis? Depending on your goals, you’ll need to adjust your budget and racquet selection. If you know you’ll be taking your tennis seriously over the next few years, then you’ll want a quality racquet that allows you to improve. Look for racquet specifications that fit the type of player you want to be in a year. A beginner who knows they’re going to take tennis seriously and wants to improve fast, should choose something closer to an intermediate frame.  Budget $150 or more on each racquet.  Choose a racquet frame around 100 square inches and 11 ounces. Note: Most serious intermediate and advanced players need two or more racquets for when they break strings. Players who are just starting out might want a lower budget racquet to see if they like the sport first. In this case, you can purchase one racquet from a trusted tennis brand at around $100. Tennis racquet brands & other specs to consider After you have a range for weight and frame size based on the questions above, you might want to think about a few other factors. The most popular tennis racquet brands include Wilson, Head, Babolat, Yonex, Prince, and Dunlop. If you have a preference between these, then that makes your search easier. They all offer great racquets for any skill level. Other specifications you might take into consideration are: String Pattern: This refers to the number of vertical (main) and horizontal (cross) strings. 16x19 is the most common and probably what most players should choose. The more “open” string patterns means more space in between strings and therefore more spin. 18x20 would be considered a “tight” string pattern and offers more feel and control. Length: Standard adult racquets are 27 inches which is what most players should use. Some junior and toddler racquets are smaller. Oversized racquets are up to 28 inches and can add power. Balance: This refers to the weight distribution within the frame. Two racquets might weigh the same but feel different because one can have more weight in the head vs the handle. Stiffness: Consider this if you have elbow issues and need a more flexible frame. A low stiffness rating (usually around 60) means the racquet will absorb vibrations better and be easier on your arm. Stiffer frames (65+) will provide better power but won’t feel as good on mishits. I typically don’t recommend people worry too much about these, but they are good to know if you need them. This video from Tennis Warehouse can help you further understand all the terminology and specs that go into making a racquet. At this point, you should have a clearer idea of what type of tennis racquet might be best for you. If you have any questions or want specific recommendations, check out my racquet reviews at thetennistribe.com/reviews/. — Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of Tennis Tribe. He is an expert on tennis racquets and other gear including tennis shoes, bags, sunglasses, & more. Through his website, he’s helped over 100,000 people choose tennis gear and routinely tests the latest equipment from all the major tennis brands. He is also widely recognized as an expert in doubles strategy. Will has worked as a doubles strategy analyst for ATP & WTA players at all four majors. Through his website and podcast, Will shares his doubles knowledge to help players of all skill-levels improve and grow the game of doubles.

If you’re like me, you’re busy, and it’s often overwhelming to think of how to incorporate “all the things” we should be doing for ourselves.  You probably have heard that Yoga is good for you but you’re not exactly sure how to fit it in, or how to choose the type of class that’s appropriate, depending on what you’re looking to get out of it.   Given that you’re a tennis player, I’m going to assume that you want to be able to play as much as you can for as long as you can, and that you want to be able to play up to your potential.  With that said, I want to offer 3 simple ways you can get started with practicing Yoga for Tennis: Before, During and After being on court.  For those of you who are experienced with yoga, you might find that these subtle suggestions offer a way of making a connection between tennis and yoga that you’ve not considered in the past, and you will get that much more out of your practices going forward! Yoga before Tennis It’s often said that if you’re aware of your breath, you’re practicing yoga and it’s true! The breath is our link between the body and mind, and it’s what makes otherwise (traditional or not) yoga postures “yogic.” As we tune in to our breath and synchronize movement to breath, it’s easier to put our other “to do’s” on pause, connecting to the present moment.  Here are some suggestions to try before you head out on court:  Take a few minutes seated with your eyes closed in a comfortable position, first feeling your body connected to your seat, and your feet connected to the ground.  Once feeling grounded, allow your awareness to become more internal as you notice your breath.  Become aware of where you feel the breath in the body, if it has sound or not, and its quality (all without judgement, and as a means to observe your body/mind before stepping out on court.)  What you’re doing is preparing yourself to do the same once playing: work towards blocking out distraction and allowing your awareness to turn inward apart from all the other distractions that will inevitably occur while playing.  The next natural progression is to link movement to breath before stepping out on court, on the controlled environment of your mat. The eventual goal is to be able to link breath to strokes, in order to breathe more efficiently, (especially helpful for long rallies and tough matches.) The dynamic warm-up offered below, also has the potential to aid injury prevention and to produce a feeling of being looser on court.  In addition, I personally find that when I have a little nervous energy before playing, these practices allow me to work a bit of that out, making it more likely to avoid slower starts and having to hit through tension in the first few games of a match.  Feel this supported way of working on the back of the body through the breath, and on top of that, help get your mind right before tennis play.  Try this at home, in your office and even a locker room as close to play time as possible.   https://youtu.be/Xa6eD743PCQ Yoga During Tennis Play: Yoga during tennis you say??? How exactly does that work? You already know one way in observing your breath between points and even changeovers to settle yourself and reel yourself back in to focus.  Don’t under-estimate this valuable time! Pros such as Victoria Azarenka are often seen on changeovers working with their breath and blocking out externals with their towels and this is one habit that is attainable by mimicking the pros!  Returning over and over to your base breath between points and changeovers to calm and even out breath when it’s become rapid can be your own secret weapon that no one has to know about!  If synching movement was successful on your mat in the warm-up, you may be ready to bring that practice on court, but I suggest trying it outside of match play to begin as you will need to focus your attention exclusively on exhaling as you hit (allowing inhalations to arise naturally as a result.) Hitting practices are ideal for this initially, using a “short court” where you generally don’t feel pressure to perform.  From there take this breath practice into your lessons and match warm-ups and before long you’ll be doing it automatically (and perhaps find your own unique “grunt!”)  You’ll feel less tired and more fluid in the long run, and fluidity translates into power and who doesn’t want that?!  For those of you looking for a physical yoga posture you can try on court, I suggest Cow Face Arms that can easily be practiced on court on a break using your tennis racquet.  This can be practiced for several breaths before a service game or longer after a lengthy service game and after a match.  Each arm mimics different and several of the actions we take in our serve, such as the back scratch position & pronation within the shoulder for those of you looking for a little extra action on your serve! Don’t be surprised if you feel big differences with regards to range of motion side to side.  Tying into the benefit of injury prevention, yoga can often help tennis players become more aware of what’s happening in the body, making it less likely for injury if we’re proactive in what we discover within ourselves.  https://youtu.be/ts0dm9Yb1ak Yoga after Tennis  Now I know what you’re thinking…practicing yoga after tennis play might be last on your list of priorities but hear me out! What if you could reduce muscle soreness and aid in recovery with very little muscular output? I recommend one or two restorative postures (if you have more time, the more the merrier!) These postures are done with support and very little movement, allowing for the body to open and stretch passively as they’re held for 2-5 minutes each.  The hardest part is committing to carving out the time and very rarely do I see that anyone regrets giving themselves this extra bit of self-care! As a bonus, it also allows for some quiet and reflection of your tennis play that can often be emotional and draining. My preference is to do this as soon as you can after play or after a hot shower. Don’t forget to shut off your phone with the exception of setting its timer, and don’t be surprised if you feel super relaxed afterwards! Check out this playlist I created on my YouTube Channel: Recovery & Restorative Yoga specific to challenging tennis players in setting the habit of slowing down. Practice these to feel better and recover immediately after your tennis play! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAk1y0ASf9eK3haEu55OIuzWQfos6vlgZ In summary, Yoga for Tennis can be practiced before, during, and after tennis play. Before you know it you just might set habits that will undoubtedly improve and enhance your enjoyment of the game but also in life!  Don’t just take my word for it…practice it yourself for a few minutes at a time and watch the magic of yoga unfold itself within your tennis game!  Margit Bannon is a USPTA Elite Pro and Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance.  She is the founder Play Tennis. Practice Yoga. where she teaches in Southwest Florida.  Follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube Channel  for practice videos released every Tuesday! Visit her website Play Tennis Practice Yoga

Have you guys heard of pickleball? It’s hard not to these days.  Pickleball is a cross between tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It was invented back in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington by 3 vacationers. Fast forward to today, pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport in America. Some are predicting we’ll see 40 million players by 2030, twice the size of tennis. Once considered a quirky game, it’s now going mainstream.  Courts are popping up all over the country, with many cities and towns unable to keep pace with the sport’s popularity.This leaves many players asking the same question… where can I play pickleball?  Today we’ll showcase 6 of the best places to play pickleball in the City of Angels. We’ll cover LA’s top neighborhoods, how to reserve a court, and perhaps the best part , where to grab a bite or drink after your game.  Memorial Park Pickleball Neighborhood: Santa Monica Number of Courts: Public: 16 Memorial Park, located in Santa Monica, is one the best bets for LA’s west-side community. There are 4 tennis courts that have been lined for pickleball. Each tennis court can hold 4 pickleball courts (2 on each side), so you can play on 16 total pickleball courts.  These are not dedicated courts, meaning you’ll have to bring your own portable pickleball net to play. But don’t worry, you can buy one easily on Amazon. The park is free to play at but is often reserved for tennis lessons or clinics so be sure to check in advance.  To note- if you don't have your own net, the friendly folks at Memorial will let you play and drop-in.   Après Pickle: Grab a craft beer at Santa Monica Brew Works just around the corner or sit down for some of the west side’s best Italian food at Milo + Olive.  El Segundo Parks & Recreation  Neighborhood: El Segundo Number of Courts: 4 Public, a one-time fee required South bay residents can enjoy one of the city’s best pickleball facilities here in El Segundo. This recreation center features 4 outdoor courts. And the best part? They are dedicated to pickleball – no need to bring your own net or draw your own lines.  The courts are public but reservations are strongly encouraged. Resident and non-resident reservation fees apply.  El Segundo Parks & Rec Reservation Information  For after: Grab a cold beer and a few slices of pizza at The Slice & Pint, run by the local El Segundo Brewing Company. Or grab a drink at Rock & Brews, the LA classic founded by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS. Venice Beach Paddle Tennis & Pickleball Courts Neighborhood: Venice Number of Courts: 3 (allowed for pickleball) Public These courts are iconic as they come. Located right on the famous Venice Beach boardwalk, it’s always a scene down here, complete with locals, tourists, and lots of competitive paddle action.  The courts are known for paddle tennis, but pickleball open play happens every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 am to 12 pm. Check courts 7, 10 & 11. Given the explosion of the sport, it’s no surprise local players have been pushing for more pickleball time.  Après: Grab a tasty burger at The Window nearby, or head over to the Gjusta Bakery for amazingly fresh baked goods, sandwiches and salads.   La Cienega Tennis Center Neighborhood: Beverly Hills Number of Courts: 8 Membership required Managed by the City of Beverly Hills, this facility is one of the best bets for pickleball if you’re in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, or Mid-City. Originally a tennis center with 16 lighted courts, eight pickleball courts have since been added with lines on two tennis courts. You’ll also find nice amenities like showers, locker rooms and a pro shop. Facility registration and court reservations are required to play. Portable nets are provided with your reservation. La Cienega Tennis Center Reservation Information Après Pickle: Grab a beer at All Season Brewing or brunch at Toast Bakery Cafe Plummer Park Neighborhood: West Hollywood Number of Courts: 8 Membership required The pickleball scene has exploded in West Hollywood, and Plummer Park is the place to play. It features 5 outdoor pickleball courts – 1 dedicated and 4 sets of lines painted on two tennis courts. Plummer Park also has a popular open-play program where you can show up and play all night by rotating courts and partners.  The courts require an $8/hour reservation fee, but free play is available for certain courts and times throughout the week.  Plummer Park Reservation Information Après Pickle: Have a delicious salad or sandwich at the Fresh Corn Grill or hit the iconic Pink’s Hot Dogs just a few blocks of the courts.  Allendale Park Neighborhood: Pasadena Number of Courts: 4 Public East-siders, you’re in luck. The pickleball scene has also made its way across town and Allendale Park in Pasadena is one of the top places to play pickleball. Allendale Park features 4 outdoor dedicated pickleball courts, no need to bring your own net. The courts are free to play at and require no reservation. They work off a rotating queue system to accommodate all players.  Après Pickle: Grab appetizers at The George, newly opened on Washington Blvd, or a craft cocktail at the Magnolia House.  You can now add pickleball alongside biking, surfing, hiking, and all the wonderful outdoor activities to do in Los Angeles. It’s easy to learn, it’s social and most of all – fun! If you haven't picked up a pickleball paddle yet… What are you waiting for? Hey, and if you are looking for some super fun pickleball gear, check out Ace the Moon's pickleball collection here See you on the courts!About the Author: Brandon Mackie is the co-founder of Pickleheads™, a platform that helps players find courts, organize sessions, and connect with nearby players. Once a competitive tennis player, Brandon can be found these days honing his dinks on pickleball courts near Venice Beach, California.

Introduction by Josh Gettler:  I first met Chris, where else, but on the tennis courts in Santa Monica.  I was waiting for a court with a tennis student and a bucket of balls. I recall being immediately struck by his tall stature (6'3), his retro tennis attire and silvery-blonde ponytail sticking out of his hat...and thinking this guy is truly old school "California".  I am not exactly sure what we talked about that day, but we exchanged numbers and I walked away thinking that he was really personable and friendly, unlike most people I'd met in California up to that point.  Fast forward approximately 2 years, Chris has become my number one tennis friend, a true friend and someone I can talk to about anything.  He's taught me countless drills and has helped tremendously with my tennis coaching. He is a real mensch, and anyone who's been fortunate enough to be in his presence, to learn and play tennis with him, can fully attest to this fact.  Chris has coached countless people throughout his career and continues coaching all over Los Angeles.  He also heads up his own bi-weekly publication "Tennis.  It's a Lifestyle".  Chris- thank you for contributing to our blog and being a genuine friend.       Down from my 75-year-old grandmother’s attic came a light green trash bag with 50 formerly white, but now grey tennis balls along with a wooden Tad Imperial tennis racquet wrapped in a leather cover and strapped into a press. This hand off started me on a 50 plus year trek. Tennis took me from small town Millersville, Pennsylvania to the tennis concession in Central Park - New York City, then to the Colombo Swim Club in Sri Lanka and finally to Los Angeles. There I served as Tennis Director for the Ketchum YMCA for nearly 30 years. All the while running tennis camps as well. This is the history of what I live and call: the “Tennis Lifestyle”. Ketchum YMCA, Downtown Los Angeles The high school tennis team needed players, so the Tad Imperial was dusted off.  My self-taught slice backhand and enough athleticism to keep the ball in play was enough to make the Junior Varsity team and play an occasional match. That high school team would be the beginning of a life-long love of tennis which continues to this day. I was there for the very beginning of the “Tennis Boom.” Tennis became a common bond among my friends and we played virtually every spare minute when we were not working or in school.  This base of tennis was enough to propel me into the Tennis Lifestyle though at the time I didn’t know how enveloping it would be.  Division #3 college tennis came on the scene but my refusal to cut my hair (stupid in hindsight) found me cut from the team. However, I continued to play daily and started teaching friends who wanted to learn. Tennis as a Lifestyle had not entered in as a possible means of supporting one’s self full time but between odd jobs and teaching a few tennis lessons the inevitable let’s use that college business degree and get on with things remained pushed to the future.  In a type of kismet moment, the owners of the company I was working for agreed to run an indoor tennis facility. Thanks to the “Tennis Boom”, they found themselves successful and opened a second six-court club. The company knew one of their employees was a tennis person with a business degree and at the age of 24 I was named tennis manager/director of the Quaker Valley Tennis Club.   From that point on, the Tennis Lifestyle revved full force never to really slow down.  Getting people to play tennis, play better tennis, meet others who have an interest in the sport and just enjoy a sport one can play their entire life became a mission for me.  After Quaker Valley, I managed a larger club - the Wynfield Club in York, Pennsylvania. It was a huge facility with five indoor courts, six outdoor clay, two outdoor hard courts, four squash courts and an Olympic sized pool. As the tennis boom began to wane around this time, the club moved away from tennis and into other sports. I used this opportunity to move away from Pennsylvania and explore world-wide tennis. I found an opportunity in Sri Lanka to both teach 3rd grade (a story for another time) and tennis at the Columbo Swim Club adjacent to the Indian Ocean. Two years and many tennis lessons and life experiences later, I moved to Singapore for a short stint teaching at the Singapore Island Country Club. Back in the U.S. I applied for and got the position of manager/director for Central Park’s tennis concession. New York City is not the easiest town for the tennis lifestyle but from Easter until Thanksgiving the Central Park clay courts were a tennis person’s paradise. The second winter there and the inevitable tennis lifestyle slow down made the decision to come to Los Angeles in January almost a no-brainer. If it didn’t work out, Central Park would be back open in April.  A one-week blitz of tennis clubs in Los Angeles resulted in my finding six courts on the roof of a building in downtown Los Angeles. The courts were leased to a YMCA that, at the time, didn’t have the resources to develop a tennis program. They offered me a Tennis Director position and I proudly ran that club for 28 years.  The YMCA last use of the courts on June 30, 2017 after the sale of the building.    “Tennis. It’s a Lifestyle” continues to live on to this day. I enjoy providing a mix of tennis lessons, tennis playing, adult camps, a bi-weekly tennis newsletter and always looking for opportunities to get others involved in the sport.  What started as gift of a Tad Imperial racquet has enabled me to meet the woman who became my wife and to travel around the world making a living with tennis.  Of course, tennis is not just a sport, but rather also a mechanism for making countless lifelong friends. I’m happy to report that, the life I am leading at 70 closely resembles my life at 25. Here’s to the Tennis Lifestyle! 

For those of you who don't know Michelle, she is the best.  A tennis coaching friend of mine recently said to me, that out of 100 people you meet (and teach), 10 of them are going to be great people, 10 of them are going to be horrible, and the other 80 are just people.  Michelle Greco falls into the top 1% of the great people.  I was fortunate enough to have been connected with Michelle when I had just moved out to LA about 2 years ago, as I was trying to open a multi-sport racket and paddle sport club called Swyng. Looking back to the time before we met, I was a bit intimidated by her resume: a former star point guard for The UCLA Bruins, a WNBA veteran for the Seattle Storm and a champion Pop Tennis player in countless tournaments.   Then, we met and I got to know Michelle, both on and off the Pop courts. While she has lethal strokes and is a fierce competitor on the courts, she is incredibly humble, has tremendous passion for people, and is  just an absolute sweetheart with a heart of gold.  Her infectious smile, easy going demeanor and her joie de vivre makes her shine and it's no wonder everyone wants to be around her.   I sat down with Michelle to talk about the state of Pop Tennis, her bike rental company Joyride Santa Monica and her life in LA.  Here we go!   Let's talk about running a small business during Covid   Q: You are the owner of Joyride Santa Monica.You were coming off of a banner year in 2019. Covid hits and you have to shut down operations. Walk us through this time period, the trials and tribulations, and how you adapted  through these super challenging times. A: It was a difficult year. As you mentioned, we came off a record setting 2019 and then due to COVID we were forced to close the 2nd week in March of 2020. We had to remain closed until mid-May, but even after we reopened we had to close again the July 4th week due to a state wide closure of all beaches in California. Needless to say, it was a rollercoaster of a ride. Thankfully, we were able to pivot our business plan a bit. We started selling used bikes, offering monthly rentals for locals living in a 10-mile radius of Santa Monica and slowly  we started opening on weekends for regular business. Sadly, we lost staff during our business closures and of course we had a huge financial loss of revenue. Fast forward to 2021, we’ve hit the ground running better than ever. We’re now crushing numbers from 2019, I was able to hire an amazing new staff and we’re setting records every month. We couldn’t be more thankful for this huge turnaround and I credit the locals from Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area for their support of small businesses. We greatly appreciate our loyal and  amazing Joyride customers!   Q: What do you like most about running Joyride?   A: I started Joyride because I love being outside at the beach, I have a  great love for bikes and I really enjoy meeting new people. Customer service has always come natural to me and something I truly enjoy.  Also, I love the challenge of running my own business and turning a creative vision into a reality. It gives me great “joy” when I see my Joyride bikes riding along the beach path in Santa Monica and Venice.       Let's talk Pop   Q: Seriously, did you put the Pop in Pop Tennis? I have had the honor of playing some pop tennis with you over the past couple of years. I’m feeling like they named the sport after you as every time we have played together, you are pretty much a rock star down at the Venice Beach courts. But seriously, tell us how you were introduced to the sport, what hooked you in and what you enjoy most about it.  A: I was introduced to the great game of Pop Tennis in 2013 when my Uncle Bill invited me to play in a mixed doubles tournament in Palos  Verdes. At the time, I was just transitioning from playing professional basketball, so I was in dire need of a new sport to spark my interest and feed my competitive fire. Immediately, I was hooked! The game is fast, aggressive and athletic, and my skill set seemed to fit in nicely. I  also met some amazing new friends playing at the Venice Beach and Culver City courts. Before I knew it, I was playing and traveling to  tournaments in Florida, New York and Ojai. I just couldn’t get enough!   Q:I know you play a little tennis. How’s your tennis game these days and do you find playing tennis helps or hurts your Pop tennis game?  A: I don’t play much tennis these days but the last time I was on a court was just before the start of COVID. To my great delight I felt like my tennis game was actually better. I couldn’t get over how big the court was! Since I’m used to the smaller Pop court, everything I hit seemed to stay in and it was amazing. Getting used to the overhand serve as oppose to underhand was a change but I definitely felt like Pop improved my overall tennis game.   Competition & Training   Q: You have competed in countless tournaments and have won  something like (a dozen of them?). For starters, Do you prefer doubles or singles?  A: I prefer doubles for competition and singles for a great workout, and to improve my overall game.   Q: When you train, you train hard! Walk us through your typical training day. How many hours on the courts, off the courts?  A: Depending on how busy my week is, I try to get in at least 3 to 4 pop tennis sessions in the morning. Normally when I get to the courts, I have a scheduled opponent for singles or doubles. Ideally, I try to play for at least 2 hours with at least 30-45 minutes of drilling and then over an hour of competing in sets. I also try to sneak in 1 sand workout or a stair/walk workout to mix up my routine.   Q: I know you are not so into tennis skirts. What do you like to wear on the courts and are there any brands you gravitate towards?  A: This question made me laugh. I played high school tennis and my freshman year I was forced to wear a skirt because that was the team uniform. After putting up a stink the entire season I got the “okay” to wear my basketball shorts while playing. Phew! Such a relief not having to wear that skirt. I felt so free to compete harder with my shorts on. Ha. Now, I love to wear my Lululemon, 2xU tights when I  play. The material has to be the thicker, stretchy type (not the yoga pant material). I’m very picky with my tights and I also have to have a  cool, flowy tank top to go with my pants. Let’s not forget my signature  trucker hat to go with those items. ☺  Q: What are you eating pre and post workouts?   A: I have a consistent breakfast every morning before I play or workout. I first start with a banana, walnuts, blueberries, Cocoyo yogurt and a glass of pineapple/ginger juice. After letting that settle for about 20 minutes I then have either oatmeal or cereal depending on  what I feel like. For hydration I’ll bring 1 smart water and 1 Health-Ade ginger Kombucha to the courts.  When I finish playing, depending on how much time I have, I’ll either have a yellow diamond smoothie with maca protein powder from Kreation or I’ll make a veggie filled salad with albacore tuna.  Q: Speaking of food, I know we both enjoy a great meal after we play hard. It has become our thing to meet up at Kreation and get their $20 Prosperity smoothies. I am craving one right now. As a Santa Monica resident and lover of our little City by the Sea, tell us about some of your favorite local spots to dine, perhaps some that you frequent while training and others on more "cheat days".  A: Ahhh, those Kreation smoothies are so good aren’t they? The $20 Prosperity smoothie is worth every penny and I also have a new favorite from a friend who just started a mobile smoothie/juice shop on Ocean Ave and Montana. It’s called The Juice Shop and William is the owner. My favorite smoothie is The Grateful and I like to add Kale and Bananas. I’ve joked that the smoothie should be renamed "The Greco" since I’m his best customer and I get it all the time. Ha! A few other favorite lunch/dinner/ice cream spots I love to frequent are below:   Back On The Beach Café at The Annenberg. Get the veggie power  bowl and add chicken if you’re really hungry.   Rosti’s on Montana. I love the beef meatballs as an appetizer, the  spinach/cheese ravioli’s and the chicken marsala.  Dagwood's on Wilshire. Can’t go wrong with this local Italian spot. I  love the house salad, spaghetti with meat sauce and pizza with pepperoni, olives, mushrooms and basil. Yum! Prima Cocina on Montana. Get the veggie bowl and prima  burrito with steak. Don’t forget the guacamole!   For those of you who love burgers like I do please go immediately to HiHo Cheeseburger and The Win-dow. Two amazing burger spots  with great fries, milkshakes and salads.  Yes, I love ice cream and I don’t believe anyone who says they don’t.  Ha! My favorites are Sweet Rose on 26th near San Vicente, Rori’s on Montana and McConnell’s in the Palisades.   Q: Where do you see Joyride going in the next 3-5 years?  A: I’m not exactly sure. I’ve looked into expanding to new locations, acquiring store fronts and offering new services but for now I really like where we’re at. We’re just coming off a great summer and we’re hoping to continue with a decent fall and winter. Fingers crossed that nothing changes with Covid, our country and the world can continue to heal.   Q: Do you think the bike riding craze will last?  A: For the time being, yes! I think Covid has changed the way people think and how they exercise. Fresh air, exercise and amazing scenery can’t be replaced by being inside a gym with a mask on. There is a freedom that is associated with bike riding outside, especially at the  beach.   Let’s talk basketball Q: We've got a series of questions here for you: Is basketball your favorite sport and talk to us about the similarities between playing basketball and Pop Tennis. How often are you playing basketball these days? I know you also do some private coaching. Tell us about that a bit and how fulfilling it is for you. How  good are the youngsters these days? UCLA men’s and women’s team predictions for this season. Top 5 NBA and WNBA players.  Current and former. A: Growing up, soccer and basketball were my two favorite sports with tennis being a close second. I played mostly organized soccer with basketball and tennis being sports that I played with family and friends at the park or at home. By the time I got to middle school, it became  evident that basketball was my ticket to college and possibly a dream  of playing professionally. So I focused on basketball, and from the age of 15 to 33 it became my passion and obsession. Competing at the highest level in college at UCLA, the WNBA for the Seattle Storm and in the EuroLeague for Cras Basket Taranto in the south of Italy were  absolute highlights and experiences that I’ll never forget. It’s crazy when I think about where the game of basketball took me. I played for international professional teams in Israel, Greece, Turkey and Italy.  During my seasons playing overseas we’d travel for games to Russia,  Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, France, Croatia, Romania.. the list goes on and on. I literally have to pinch myself sometimes when I  think about all the amazing places I got to visit because of basketball.  Being able to experience different cultures, eat amazing foods, hear  new languages and just see the day to day life in new locations was  such a blessing.   Now, I rarely play, but I coach a lot of basketball. I currently coach the 4th, 5th and 6th grade girls basketball teams at The Village School in the Palisades. I also coach a free basketball clinic every Wednesday at the Boys & Girls club in Santa Monica. Additionally, I do private  basketball coaching in the Brentwood, Palisades area. Coaching is something I love and it’s a great feeling being able to transfer my knowledge of the game to the youth. Some of the kids I coach are ballers! I’m super excited to see some of them continue to grow and progress through the years.   Speaking of exciting... my UCLA Bruins are going to be tough this year. Both the men and women are going to be at the top of the Pac 12! I’m predicting Elite 8 appearances from both the men and women this year. Watch out for Johnny Juzang on the men’s team and Charisma Osborne on the women’s squad. They’re both incredible players and I’m predicting more record breaking seasons for them!   The WNBA has been really cool to watch recently. The playoffs are always the best time to tune in and right now I’m loving seeing Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker both one win away from taking their teams to the Finals! I’d love to see a Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky Finals. If that happens I’m rooting for Diana, So Cal native from Chino  and amazing person and mother!   I can’t wait for the NBA season to start! Anyone who knows me well knows how big of a Laker fan I am. Growing up in the Los Angeles area during the 80’s I got to witness Laker championships during the  Showtime Era with Magic and Kareem. Gosh how spoiled are we  Laker fans?! We then got to welcome the greatest Laker of all time Kobe Bryant (RIP Kobe, still doesn’t feel real) and Shaquille O’Neal.  Now, we have LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook (Go  Bruins!) and Carmelo Anthony… gosh we really are spoiled as Laker fans! I’m expecting a great season and another Championship banner!  Let’s go Lakers!!   State of Pop Tennis  Q: I have heard rumblings that Pop Tennis may become an Olympic sport. Thoughts on this? A: Similar to how there was 3on3 basketball as a spinoff from the regular game of 5on5 in the Tokyo Olympics, I think it’s time to add a new version to Tennis. The world is looking for new fresh and exciting sports. Everyone loves tennis but it’s time to mix it up… my vote is for Pop!   Q: So, not into Pickleball yet/ever?  A: I can honestly say that I have never played Pickleball. Kudos to those who love Pickleball and are obsessed with playing like I am with Pop. For me, I’m still trying to understand the kitchen and how to keep score. Ha! I’m not a hater though. Racquet sports are so much fun and if you’re routinely exercising, enjoying the game with friends and  competing I applaud you.   State of Michelle Greco Q: I have gotten to know you pretty well over the past couple of years.  You are kind, sensitive, a good listener and a good friend. "The People" also love you. As we just witnessed the recall election, have you thought about getting into politics?  A: Political Science was my major at UCLA but no, I don’t see myself running for Mayor or the local city council anytime soon. Ha Love the  question though! ☺ 

With Lanny Grossman as a co-writer/contributor   So everyone has been asking. What is up with that bagel shirt? Okay, maybe this one is a little out of the bagel box, so to speak. Here is the backstory: Earlier this year, there was a NY Times editorial, written by Tehal Rao, that proclaimed California had a better bagel than New York.  That is a very BOLD proclamation, and one that as a longtime NYC resident, and a recent transplant to LA, got my attention. My phone was blowing up. Seriously, all 4 of my friends texted me this article, asking if I had been to the two LA bagel shops featured in the article, Courage Bagels & Pop’s Bagels.  I had not. I had just moved to LA from New York City, and was still digesting all those delicious New York City bagels and pizzas.  I knew that LA had an incredible food scene.  It’s sushi, Mexican and “California” cuisines are THE best. But the bagels? Don’t they have to, like, import the water from New York or something? Now, I love bagels so much, but I try to only eat them after a great workout.  Let’s call it a post-tennis reward or treat. I just googled this...They say you burn about 600-800 calories playing an hour of tennis, depending on how hard you are hitting (Note: I hit the ball very hard).  An everything bagel with cream cheese is about 500 calories. If you add some lox, capers and onions (my go-to order), you are still winning, or at very least breaking even. So mathematically speaking, we are all good, man!  Along with playing tennis and eating bagels, I am also a big music guy and I am used to spending my summers going to a bunch of concerts. Since live performances have mostly been on hiatus, especially here in LA, I went on a slightly different tour this summer, dubbing it The LA Summer Tennis Bagel Tour 6.0. Taking some tennis and bagel loving friends along for the ride, we hit the forehand freeways in search for some cream cheese and chives in Culver City, and lox love in Los Feliz. Then we made a tee shirt out of it. But before we make that left turn up Wilshire and get stuck on the 405, I wanted to take you back to the bagel baseline...back to my New York City days.    My New York Tennis and Bagel Days For years, I had played tennis with a group of guys every Sunday morning at Midtown Tennis in West Chelsea. I wanted to give a big shout out to the pros there. Basil, Byron-  I hope you guys are doing amazingly and you got through Covid okay.  Come to think of it, I always used to see you guys at the bagel shop I am about to tell y’all about, down the block from the club.   Midtown Tennis- Manhattan: Basil (left) Byron (right) https://www.midtowntennis.com/  So, it pretty much became a ritual, that after our matches, we would walk down a couple of blocks on Eighth Avenue to Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co. (https://bkbagel.com/). You would think any business in this neighborhood would use the name of the actual neighborhood? Anyway, let me tell you, we discovered that place before it was really on the NYC bagel map.  Our doubles game would end at 11AM and we’d be online (yea, not “inline”) by 11:15. There would only be a handful of other people waiting. Then, maybe there was one of those Eater articles or something, and the place absolutely blew up. By the time we would show up, there’d be 100 + people stretching out along the avenue, eagerly awaiting a deliciously crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside circle of heaven. They had a million different types of cream cheese...A bit overwhelming for the inexperienced bagel nosher.  There are so many amazing bagel shops in New York. Ess-A-Bagel, Tal, Absolute on the Upper Westside. Some of the newer spots, like Montreal-style Blackseed (https://www.blackseedbagels.com/ ) and Sadelle's in Soho (https://www.sadelles.com/) were just sprouting up as I was packing my Patagonia's for palm trees. I didn’t get to try Blackseed but I had eaten at Sadelle’s once and let me tell you, it was an absolutely divine experience. So, between all the legendary bagel spots and the newcomers, New York’s bagel scene was a pretty high bar to surpass. I was a little skeptical LA can even come close.  But like true bagel ballers, we went into each point with a fresh out of the oven set of eyes. Our first tennis and bagel experience was around the corner from my apartment in Santa Monica. As much as I was ready to leave New York City, it was comforting to find some very New York-style places within a few block stretch of my Westside place. Fromin’s, Izzy’s (https://frominsdeli.com/,  http://izzysdelitogo.com/), The Bagel Nosh and NY Bagel Dept. are all within walking distance. As for playing tennis, Reed Park and Douglas Park are the closest courts to me.   Playing tennis in Santa Monica  There are really a lot of places to play tennis in Santa Monica. From Ocean View Park and Marine Park on the south side of Santa Monica, to SaMo High School, Clover, Douglas, Memorial and Reed Parks scattered about this dynamic enclave of Los Angeles. Reed Park, located on Wilshire Ave between 7th and 8th Streets, is, in my opinion, one of the best places to play. There are six hard courts. They cost $4 per hour/person for Santa Monica Residents and $5 per hour per person if you don’t reside in SaMo. They are kept in great shape and well worth trying to book a court there (Note: they book up quickly; link to system at the bottom of this blog).  The online system goes live daily every morning at 8:15AM, and you can book a court up to 3 days in advance. What’s also nice about these courts, like many of the public courts in LA, they are fenced in. This way you don’t have to worry about balls constantly flying onto your court or vice versa.  Douglas Park, literally a long tennis ball throw away from my humble abode, has 2 hard courts. These are free to play on, though a little trickier, as they are permitted for coaching lessons most mornings. Don’t tell anyone, but after about 11AM and most evenings, it’s relatively quiet and the court lights stay on until late. Did I mention they are free? As a New Yorker who is approaching 2 years in LA, it still shocks me how most of the outdoor activities here are sans dinero. I guess we pay for them one way or another. Anyway!  Our Post-Tennis Bagel New York Bagel & Deli sits right in between Reed and Douglas Parks. Walking into the bagel shop, it really feels like I’m stepping back into Pick A Bagel on Manhattan’s Upper Eastside.  New York Bagel & Deli has a solid and very reasonably priced bagel. My go-to lox sandwich and a coffee is about $10. The bagels are constantly being baked on premise and are served hot, though out of habit, I still get mine toasted. Their staff is always so nice and consistent and has worked so hard through Covid. This has become my neighborhood go-to bagel spot.  Backhands and Bagels in Brentwood  Our next stop was a 7 minute drive up the road to Brentwood. The bus barely made it there but guzzled into the Barrington Rec Center parking lot. The park has 4 great hard courts, also fenced in. They are totally freeee! There is usually a wait for them during the more peak times, but I have played there a dozen or so times and have never had to wait longer than 20-30 minutes.   We played so hard that morning, we deserved an amazing bagel afterwards. Luckily, Yeastie Boys parks it’s truck around the corner every Sunday, right along San Vicente, close to Alfred (https://alfred.la/blogs/los-angeles/brentwood-1).  OMG Yeastie Boys. I represent Connecticut, and was definitely not raised out in Brooklyn, but you guys truly have it goin’ on. These boys, and the fine ladies who served us, are maybe best known for their cheese and meat filled breakfast sandwiches like the “Game Over” and “Cheddy Wap”.  So what’cha, what’cha what did I want? Being the purist that I am, I went with the “Lox Deluxe ''- Lox, tomato, red onion, capers with scallion cream cheese on an everything bagel. The bagel just melts in your mouth. An important factor for me, the bagel size, was just right, and I was definitely full afterwards. Every ingredient was super fresh and can taste the deliciousness in every bite. Prices range here from $6-$13, the Lox Deluxe being on the higher end of that range. You have to fight for your right to find these guys the next time you are in LA.  Awesome stuff.   Poppy Seeds in Pali The tour continued a little further on up the road. The bagel bus was approaching the PCH, but we took a right turn off of West Channel Road and up the picturesque hills of Rustic Canyon in the Pacific Palisades. Surrounded by sheer nature and really cool multi-million dollar tree houses, Rustic Canyon Rec Center is a true (and somewhat of a hidden/local) gem. Most people know that green is my favorite color and Rustic Canyon does not disappoint us “greenophiles”. The lush and huge green trees, ivy-covered walls and crisp ocean air make Rustic Canyon a truly amazing tennis playing experience.   There are 6 hard courts and are all in solid condition. You might just see a familiar face from that show you were just watching. Oh, and guess what? They are freeee. The one caveat I would say here is that there are no lights, so be sure to come early in the Winter months. I have now played at Rustic dozens of times, and have never had to wait longer than 20-30 minutes as well.  We headed back on the bus and over to downtown Pacific Palisades. I know Noah’s is a chain, and perhaps shouldn’t get a mention amongst LA’s bagel scene. I do have to say they make a solid bagel, and the coffee is always hot and fresh. The Nova Lox Sandwich on an everything bagel doesn’t disappoint, and with a coffee is also a reasonable $10ish dollars. Plus, they throw in a bag of chips, so that is pretty nice of them! Over the hill and forehands away One of the pluses through Covid was the lack of traffic around LA, and I am just now getting a taste of the bumper to bumper bagels. Getting over the hill (and back) into the San Fernando Valley has been super easy and I have loved playing at a bunch of the Valley’s public and private courts. Driving out from Santa Monica on a weekend morning, we were in Sherman Oaks in 20 minutes. The largest public park in the area is the Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys Park. It is a vast park, with huge ball fields, an aquatics center, basketball, pickleball/paddle and tennis courts. There are 8 courts and costs $11 an hour. It is always a fun scene here and a lot of friendly people playing out in the Valley. My recommendation- book an early court or an evening session as the day time hours get hot out there, especially in the summer months.   So, everyone was asking...Have we checked out Hank’s yet? You gotta see Hank's baby! With its original outpost in Burbank, Hank’s was busy building out their second spot in Sherman Oaks.  Every time we drove past the location on Ventura Blvd, they weren’t quite ready to open yet. We finally got there last week and it was incredible. The #3 was an easy choice for me. Decked with lox, scallion cream cheese, capers, pickled onions, radish, salted cucumber and sprouts...this bagel sandwich is an absolute delicacy. Every ingredient was super fresh. The radishes and sprouts were so pretty to look at, it was almost tough to eat them.  The $15 price tag was well worth it as the sandwich has a heavy handle to it and I could barely finish it. Other bagel sandwiches at Hanks range from $10.50-$13.  I will definitely be back there soon.   Courage Bagels with Lanny Saving the two bagel spots the NY Times article featured for last-Courage and Pop’s Bagels, I took my most particular and discerning friend along for the ride, Lanny Grossman. Lanny has an opinion on just about everything, and just so happens to be a much better writer than me. We both live in Santa Monica, but in true LA fashion, we drove separately, and met out in the Los Feliz/Virgil Village neighborhood of East LA. This neighborhood, historically a bit edgier, is sort of like Manhattan's East Village back in the day. Carniceria's and auto repair shops mix in with newer and trendy places. It is a very cool area.   We didn’t make it to the tennis courts that morning, but Riverside Tennis at Griffith Park is very close by (A ten minute drive north) and I have played there a couple of times. These are paid courts at $11 per hour.  The courts are older, but still in pretty good shape, and always get a fun east side crowd playing.   Back to the bagels!  I will let Sir Lanny take it over with his review of Courage from here:  Lanny: It didn’t take much courage to drive to Los Feliz to try the bagels that everybody’s been talking about. After living in NYC for 20 years, bagels have become a way of life; albeit one that’s mostly missing here in LA. Courage’s menu is pretty small, handwritten on a piece of paper in the window. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes, it was my turn to order without asking too many questions, so the line could keep moving. My “Run it through the Garden” on an everything bagel came out shortly thereafter.   Pop’s Bagels with Lanny, By Lanny Our next stop was at Pop's Bagels. They have two locations, with the OG spot in Culver City within The Platform (https://platformlosangeles.com/) and the newly minted location in Brentwood. Lanny, take this over for me.     Lanny: Like any other addict, after getting my Courage fix, we had to try out Pop’s Bagels, another talked about spot with two locations in Culver City and Brentwood. This time we were smart enough to order ahead so it was ready when we arrived allowing us to skip the long line.  An everything bagel topped with lox and veggie cream cheese greeted me on this Sunday morning. This bagel was more evenly texturized. Although a slightly crisp outside and doughy inside, it was easy to rate Courage’s bagel ahead of this one immediately. I realized that Courage’s secret is the topping of lemon juice which adds to the moistness and offers a slight acidity to compliment the saltiness of the fish and capers. Pop’s bagels were smaller in diameter and thicker but nicely stacked as well. Although perfectly delicious, I did not walk away from Pop’s with the same fervor I had the day before at Courage.   Thank you Sir Lanny.   In summarizing this very salmon and slice filled blog, there are a ton of great tennis and bagel options in our amazing city of Los Angeles. LA’s bagel influences are as vast as the city, stretching from New York, to Montreal to east of the 101. We loved every bagel place we ate at, and will definitely be back at all of them.  As much as I love and miss the guys at Midtown Tennis in Manhattan, tennis in LA just pales in comparison. The year-round great weather, the access to very cheap or free public courts are just very hard to compete with. It's also relatively easy to find someone who knows someone with a private court, so there's that too.   Our Verdicts Breaking this down in a couple of fun ways, here is where we are at.  Most likely place to drive an hour and wait another hour for a bagel: Courage Bagels. A truly special place and a must try when visiting LA, or if you are living here but have yet to try.   Best everyday bagel, if we were to eat one every day: New York Bagel & Deli.  Best overall tennis experience: Rustic Canyon   The Tour (with Links):  Reed and Douglas Park to NY Bagel & Deli https://apm.activecommunities.com/santamonicarecreation/Home https://www.yelp.com/biz/new-york-bagel-and-deli-santa-monica  Barrington Rec Center to Yeastie Boys Food Truck https://www.laparks.org/reccenter/barrington https://www.yeastieboysbagels.com/  Rustic Canyon Rec Center to Noah’s Bagels https://www.laparks.org/reccenter/rustic-canyon https://www.noahs.com/  Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys Courts to Hank’s Bagels  https://www.laparks.org/reccenter/vnso https://www.hanksbagels.com/ Riverside Tennis to Courage Bagels  https://www.laparks.org/sports/tennis/facility/riverside https://couragebagels.com/  NY Times & The Infatuation Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/dining/best-bagels.html https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/la-best-bagels

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