23
Playing Tennis At Surf’s Edge In Rockaway Beach
19 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Brought the racquets out to Rockaway Beach in Brooklyn, hit a few volleys in the dry soft sand. But then I noticed the sand by the water was open and clear and flat. I saw a tennis court without the net and lines, it was perfectly laid out for some tennis hitting. So we decided to hit a few balls right at the water’s edge.
To our surprise, the surface was very similar to slow red clay. It gave us an honest bounce and we were able to have some actual rallies. The only obstacles were a few bathers who crossed our imaginary court and after about ten minutes, our footprints indended the sand which began to cause some funny bounces. There were no protests from anybody, not even the lifeguards.
If we could have installed something to serve as a net and drawn court lines, we could have actually played a set.
The fact that we were playing tennis on the beach in front of a few hundred beachgoers did evoke some interesting reactions. One good-natured guy came up and asked to hit a few volleys. He was obviously a good player with advanced form and he couldn’t resist an unexpected rally and a chance to hit some sweet spots.
Then there was a little girl about five who watched silently and fascinated for a good ten minutes before I asked her if she wanted to try. Obviously she did and despite my Volkl being not much shorter than her, she was able to keep a little rally going. Her dad said she likes to play tennis at camp.
On Sunday afternoon me and my friend/doubles partner Pete hit for a good 30 minutes on the wet sand, we did baseline, serves, volleys and also I threw up a few lobs. We also tried elongating the court and hitting from a longer distance than the typical court. It was a lot of fun I must say, to be able to play some tennis in an strange new arena. The only drawback was a slight discomfort in the forefoot because of the rubbing on the rough sand with all the footwork.
Next time I’ll bring the net, Gatorades, a stick to draw lines, a broom to clear the footprints. Two out of three sets. Game on.
19 comments
<< Nick Bollettieri Calls “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew” “Magnificent”
Steve · July 23, 2012 at 6:58 pm
You may have found a good location and surface for a fifth slam.
Harold · July 23, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Thats great, could never pull it off on Brighton Beach, too crowded…
On another sadder note, was reading this and didnt know Sally Ride who passed away, was a tennis player
After graduating from high school in 1968, Dr. Ride attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania but quit after three semesters. She was homesick for California and was considering a career in tennis. She practiced for several hours a day, and also began taking physics courses at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1970, she enrolled at Stanford as a junior. She played tennis for Stanford, became the team’s No. 1 women’s singles player and was nationally ranked. She taught at summer tennis camps, and at one of them she met Billie Jean King, who urged her to quit college and become a professional tennis player. She did not take that advice.
Years later, when a child asked her what made her decide to be a scientist instead of a tennis player, she laughed and said, “A bad forehand
Harold · July 23, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Rockaway is in Queens
Dan Markowitz · July 24, 2012 at 12:09 am
Harold,
Thanks for the Sally Ride story. That’s interesting. And, yes, very good, Rockaway is in Queens. Nice beach. There was an article in the NYTimes last weekend about how it’s actually turned into a hot surfing beach.
Scoop Malinowski · July 24, 2012 at 12:41 am
Maybe I should send this article and a letter to Tiriac to consider for Madrid next year )
Scoop Malinowski · July 24, 2012 at 12:46 am
Harold what is the beach right next to Breezy Point called? That’s Brooklyn isn’t it?
Scoop Malinowski · July 24, 2012 at 12:48 am
The waves were very powerful, almost knocked my pants off a few times.
Harold · July 24, 2012 at 1:26 am
Riis….Also considered Queens
Michael · July 24, 2012 at 3:21 am
What is this !!!???
I come here to read about Spadea not to read about Scoop hallucinating at the beach. This is outrageous.
Scoop Malinowski · July 24, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Michael I forgot to mention in the article that Spadea was there too that day, he was battle rapping by the foodstand with some of the brothers )
Harold · July 24, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Almost made it a whole day without the mention of the greatest player ever to reach number 18 with one 1/4 final in his career
Dan Markowitz · July 24, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Michael,
I’m sorry I have to apologize for Scoop here. Basically, who takes their rackets to the beach anyway. Kind of suspect, and what I want to know, Scoop, is did you actually go into the water up to, say, your waist. Because all the years we’ve been in Newport together, where I go into the ocean every day, I’ve never seen you go into the ocean.
As for Spadea, you’re absolutely right, Michael, we will get back to reporting exclusively on Vince.
Scoop Malinowski · July 24, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Harold, on a side, I recently learned Leon Gast, who made the documentary “When We Were Kings” also made a Grateful Dead movie, did you ever see it? I’d like to see it though I’m not a huge fan of their music though I do like a lot of it. Gast is a great filmmaker as he showed with “Kings.”
Scoop Malinowski · July 24, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Coming soon at tennis-prose, Spadea weighs in on the Presidential election and his thoughts on revitalizing the economy. Kidding aside, brought the racquets to try out that new game beach tennis which Dave Sickman the founder of New York Tennis and Long Island Tennis is a big proponent of. Never tried beach tennis before but want to. It’s fun and contagious. After we started, four others suddenly got up and started with their badmitton and paddles. Really tough to move well but I think it’s good exercise and training for your feet to try to move in the slow sand. Yes I hit the water for about 20 minutes actually, ran right in. We had a football to toss around. Waves were rough though.
Harold · July 24, 2012 at 8:07 pm
He worked with Garcia on their first movie..filmed in 74, released in 76…Grateful Dead(1969 to 1979) are the Federer(2004- present) of rock and roll
Steve · July 25, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Tiriac won’t take your letter. He’s too busy at the moment painting the Wimbledon grass blue.
Scoop Malinowski · July 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Tiriac just might get it done too Steve!
Michael · July 26, 2012 at 6:00 am
Scoop, what do you mean kidding aside ?
I am waiting to hear Spadea weigh in on the Presidential Race.
Obviously like anyone that enjoys an entertaining “race,” I was a huge supporter of Michelle Bachman but now, sadly, she’s no longer around to entertain (though thankfully still providing insightful commentary on world events). So I’m at a bit of a loss and would appreciate Spadea’s thoughts on (actual) Alien verse (alleged) Alien.
Scoop Malinowski · July 26, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Michael, hopefully Dan will take the ball on this idea and run with it. I like the idea of a tennis pro discussing the election too. Maybe Dan will be able to ask Fed and Nadal and Djokovic at the US Open who they would vote for in the election if they were Americans )