Don't waste your money here- their coaches are mostly raciest, and the management team don't even care about it. Very bad experiences in the group class. read more

There are pros and cons, which I've outlined in detail below, but overall a mediocre tennis program that is likely 'good enough' for people just starting out (it's cheap and accessible) but a subpar experience for anyone above beginner level. If you're a 3.5 rating or above and looking to improve your game, I'd recommend joining a more serious club that invests in its program. If you're just looking for reps, you're better off finding a hitting partner and playing outdoors (free in summer) or at McFetridge ($30/hour or $40 with a ball machine). If you have the appetite (and wallet) for a more premium experience, East Bank or Midtown are best bets. Pros: -Easy to sign up and get started, with no initiation fee or membership required -Convenient indoor/outdoor locations throughout the city -Lots of available time slots with no down season -Cheap relative to other, more advanced tennis programs (that have much nicer facilities and more experienced staff), like East Bank, Midtown, and XS Cons: -Instructors are often just people who used to play, not necessarily trained tennis pros that have made a career out of tennis -Programming feels more like supervised play than typical tennis drills / lessons; very little focus on technique or quality reps -Classes are overpopulated (6 people per court), which can make play feel slow; for example, it's not uncommon to go 3-5 minutes without touching a tennis ball -Equipment is subpar; tennis balls are seldom switched out (e.g., very few have legible writing on them anymore) -[could be pro or con] Focus seems to be on beginner levels with intermediate being highest level offered read more

I'm a former competitive junior who came back to the sport rusty and out of shape after over a decade's hiatus, and have enjoyed every minute of it. The value tennis on the lake is able to provide consistently blows me away. During my usual time slot, Ana -- a former D1 player -- is our coach, and the ability of TotL to find and retain this caliber of athlete is the real draw of the business. Her knack for immediately spotting technical flaws and suggesting efficient, practical solutions has improved my game significantly in only a few short months. Consistently being able to work with high level players at this price is unheard-of and keeps me coming back month after month. If you aren't sure about your coach here, I'd consider it unusual and encourage you to try again at a different slot. read more

EPIC FAIL! Are negative stars possible? Read on for the inside scoop. They took over the (mis) management of the courts last January at McClurg and what can I say. Residents have 1 court out of 3 - the one held together with scotch tape and zip ties (see picture). New balls residents add are purloined into the teaching pool and locked up. The reservation system requires residents to wake at the stroke of midnight (like a backwards Cinderella). It was "hacked" within the first week because if someone was from NYC or Asia, their browser would be configured for midnight in a different time-zone. They know about all these issues but they fundamentally don't care. HAT TIP TO PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS: The "teaching pros" they have wouldn't make the starting lineup of your local high-school team. If you care about your kids developing a lifelong love for the game with good form and technique, it's important to start early and start right. There are many high quality training centers available including XS Tennis, Midtown, East Bank, Lakeshore, yada yada. I'm not plugging anyone - do your own research and make your decision. It might cost a few dollars more but your kids will thank you in 20 years. RECREATIONAL PLAYERS: Want to enjoy playing tennis this summer? Save money and find a partner through the umpteen tennis partnering websites out there (just search for "Tennis Partner Chicago") and enjoy a fun afternoon in the sun at the hundreds of neighborhood courts across Chicago. Don't waste time with these clowns. read more

Tennis on the Lake - Nets a la scotch et zip ties - Tennis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This company knowingly opens registration for classes that don't actually exist and then has the customer attend the wrong level class (without making the customer aware). They also have their coaches work long hour days without breaks. Save your money and time and go elsewhere. read more

I booked a series of six tennis lessons for my daughter here and I think she was able to get the basics down in that amount of time however other parents have noticed that the experience really depends on the instructor that you get and some and early versus I'm going all the way to the 60 minutes. For me this is a really convenient location in Streeterville and I think it is a worthwhile option for indoor tennis. read more

My kids love tennis and the instructor is great. The instructor makes it fun for the kids and they always leave wanting more. I'm glad this class exists for kids in the city. Important points: 1. it's fun and engaging 2. They are improving in their tennis skills 3. Customer service was great about allowing us to schedule a makeup, but be aware that there are only so many makeup dates. It can be tough and that's not their fault. read more

Mismanaged and terrible "tennis" camp. Tennis in quotes because they are merely a daycare. If you really want to learn tennis there are many other options in the city who will value your time and give your money's worth. read more

I've had a great experience with Tennis on the Lake - I've had positive interactions with their organizing team and all the coaches.

Great experience learning tennis. I took the 8 class April session this year and Giannfranco was my teacher for my classes. He was great and would highly recommend! There were 6 people total in my class read more

I am not an athletic person at all, but since fall of 2021, I discovered that tennis--described by some as "a writer's sport"--could be the sport for me. I had never played nor watched any games, so I was starting from zero. Last October, I signed up for Beginner I classes and had sooo much fun outside, learning the forehand, backhand, overhead, and ending each session with a game of King of the Court. I also felt motivated to improve my diet, regulate my sleep schedule, and figure out a workout routine. Being able to meet up with new people in Chicago to practice and venturing to different neighborhoods to check out their courts has really helped me get out more and socialize in a whole new way. I have been taking Beginner II classes indoors at Arrive (not as bad as the impressions I got from reading other reviews about this) and noticing slow improvements in my volleys, ground strokes, and general sense of confidence and competition read more

Wow-impressive location (10 tennis courts!) in Waveland Park-an easy bus or train ride from the Michigan Avenue area. There are adult tennis classes offered at this location. A four week class which is approximately four hours of instruction runs approximately $109.00. (You can register on-line). There are a series of courses so that an individual can progress and acquire the necessary skills to be confident in their skill level. The class size is 6-7 and everyone has adequate time to get individual practice. Instruction is beyond exceptional-the drills are varied and some are competitive such as playing for points which is motivating and fun. Also if you miss a class they will reschedule it for you. If a class is cancelled they will send you a text message at least a half an hour before your scheduled time of instruction. PS. I like the tented/shaded area outside the tennis courts with chairs and tables to sit either before or after your instruction next to the tennis trailer office. FYI- I will follow up with another review after my 8 week (2 classes-consecutive are completed)! read more

Tennis on the Lake - Tennis Lessons!! - Tennis Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awful communication. I signed up for a group class and never got any email back with class details, class schedule etc. I tried to call them, but they only have option to leave a voice message there, but their voice mail is full, so technically you cannot even do that. I had to cancel what I paid for classes through my bank because again I couldn't reach them to have a refund. read more

Lesson was pretty good but they don't put you in a skill appropriate group and logistically it is quite disjointed. But the actual pro was good read more

Tennis on the Lake took over the management of the 3 indoor tennis courts at McClurg Court in Streeterville last year. Not only do they have 2 of the courts always reserved on weekends and for the majority of weekdays, but the one court that is still available for residents has a net held together by tape and zip ties, as Adi documented in his thorough review on 03/22/2021. Moreover, the reservation system is completely unprofessional since is it based on your computer's time so people are able to just adjust their timezone and reserve ahead of time, and people will just book courts and not show up, although there is a way to cancel online for free. Tennis on the lake says they monitor for people who don't show up for their reservations but of course they do not. Regarding the lessons, there are often 5-6+ people not including the 'coaching staff' on each court, even given Covid restrictions, and the coaching staff are not professional - they don't pay much attention to correct people's technique, especially with the young kids. Chitown Tennis is a much better place to find people to hit with, at least during the warmer half of the year. (https://www.chitowntennis.com/) read more

I signed up my daughter for a Sunday morning class in August 2020. We show up for the first class, no one from school is there. I try calling and emailing, no response. Finally after a week or so I hear from them, saying how I was the only one to sign up for that class(not true because there were other people there that morning) and that they have a class during the week that we can take at a different location. That does not work for me since my daughter goes to a daycare so I asked for a refund, and never heard from them again(it's been over a month). So now I have to call my bank to report the charge and try to get my money back. read more

We signed up for an indoor class for our son in Sept. When we showed up there was no one there and the facility was closed. We are having trouble getting our money back. No one responds to email and we cannot get ahold of a live person or even leave a VM because it is full. Don't sign up with this organization. Terrible.... read more

Tennis on the Lake is my favorite tennis program in the Chicago area. I've tried some different programs in the area, and I keep coming back to Tennis on the Lake. The instructors are very knowledgeable and help you improve your technique and match strategies, and I definitely see improvement session after session. And the people in my classes have been great. I've had classes with a wide variety of people and everyone that I've met is very fun, serious about learning, and overall, super nice and laid back. Plus, their classes are definitely some of the more (if not most) affordable from what I've seen around the city. Thanks for the fun times and I'll be back for more! read more

If I could leave zero stars I would. Tennis on the lake is constantly hoarding court time. Specifically, at Jonquil Park, during the summer they will reserve one of the two PUBLIC courts from 9 - 3 pm on the weekends and from 5 - 8 pmon Monday through Thursday. Every other person who uses the court has to follow the one hour system, where you leave a raquet to indicate your reservation - why is Tennis on the Lake above this rule? I would love to know if the city of Chicago permits them to do this, as it seems to go completely against the spirit of a public court. Beyond making it extremely difficult to get a court at a normal time for a working person, they also bring an entire hopper of balls and spray them into your court endlessly. One can hardly play a point without having to retrieve a ball for them. read more

I walked home from every single session of my Adult Beginner lessons at Hamlin Park on Monday and Wednesday nights in July with a GIANT smile on my face! Pete was such a helpful/positive/encouraging coach. He made every session fun and the 1.5 hour classes went by quickly! Sessions were a perfect mix of leaning new skills, refining old skills and playing games for points! The point games were always the most fun because I felt like a "real" tennis player! Thank you to Pete and Tennis on the Lake! read more

I bought a package of semi private lessons for me and my girlfriend and have tried numerous times to book a lesson but no one will return my emails or phone messages. I've written several emails, and all of which have been ignored. The lack of customer service for something I've already paid for is becoming incredibly frustrating UPDATE: Tennis on the Lake eventually got back to me and was very accommodating. They've been facing a lot of issues with the City of Chicago and have been working hard to navigate that. read more

Don't expect much customer service from them. I tried to book private lessons. It takes days to hear back from them and nobody answers the call. They also don't let you reschedule any lesson even weeks prior to it. Most tennis programs allow rescheduling 24 hours before the session. read more

Horrible experience! After registering for a class and paid the full amount, no one bothered to respond to my multiple emails and no one picked up my calls! I am not even sure if the class is happening and if not, how can i get a refund, the customer service is just unacceptable! read more

I have had a mixed experience. The customer service is slow and unresponsive. Very poor communication. The good part was I signed up for a group class at MCClurg and it turned out I was the only student. So I had 8 private lessons for a fraction of the price. The instructor was adequate, not great, but I appreciated the attention. I was exhausted after every session and he really pinpointed my weaknesses and helped me develop a better game. The not so good part was what I observed with the instructor of the kids class next to my court. That instructor had them sitting down more than playing. He seldom lifted his face from his phone. If those were my kids I would be livid to pay for absolutely nothing. I mentioned it several times to my instructor and he was embarrassed but he really couldn't do anything about it. Also, the kids class had a couple kids with no experience and a couple who you could tell were at a different level. I would not trust this organization to place your kids or even provide good instruction. I think I lucked out and I have never returned. read more

A complete waste of time and money. The coach clearly didn't want to be there and didn't care at all about what he was doing.He didn't give any advice or tips just stood on the side and gave bad feeds. Our last class there, he just left the court to go chat with the other instructors and we all just did our own thing together. They charge a lot of money for this and we would have gotten the same out of this class if we had got some people to meet up and hit around a few times a week. There are plenty of better programs in Chicago to choose from, please do not choose to play here. read more

Update: I've downgraded another star due to the fact that they keep sending me information about new classes while STILL ignoring my queries regarding our rained out class which was never rescheduled. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro: Good beginner's instruction, small class size, etc Cons: 1) You learn fundamentals in 8 sessions but that doesn't make you ready to play. You will need a LOT of practice once you finish the course. This is no reflection on TOTL but it is a reflection on quickie courses. 2) Our last class session was cancelled due to rain and over a week later (update: now 5 weeks later) there has been no contact from them about a make-up class. I emailed the instructor directly and there has been no response (update: I also contacted them directly). At this point I wouldn't bother attending a make-up class. 3) Our first attempt at signing up was for a class that was cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Fine -- it happens. When we were rescheduled for a later class we did not get registration information for the new class (including the make-up date for the class that fell on a holiday). When I called to find out about the make up date it I was told that it was in my registration information, then I was told when the make up class was. Hey, this might also explain why we weren't notified of the make-up date of the rained-out class. read more

Oh yeah tennis, it's so much tennis going on here. Guys playing tennis girls playing tennis, just a whole lotta tennis going on right here.

I was in an advanced intermediate class and the two ADULT women in that class were bullying me. they would say mean things and even tried to hit me with tennis balls on purpose. The instructor was lazy and sat down in his phone the whole time. When j explained my concerns to the owner, his response was for me to change classes and he basically just told me to deal with it because women act like that in higher classes. I've never experienced that with Toss & Spin or any other tennis organization, only with Tennis On the Lake. The owner told me to leave the class instead of addressing the two women who were incredibly mean and tried to physically hurt me. The instruction is very poor and the instructor told me I can't hit a flat forehand even though every other instructor I've ever had said the flat forehand is fine. He literally tried to change the way I hit just because it wasn't what he liked. horrible coaching. There are so many other tennis organizations that are professional and higher quality. DO NOT waste your time with Tennis On The Lake. read more

Tennis on the Lake has an awful customer service that I have never experienced before. They charged me for a package of lessons and then cancelled them and refuse to answer any of my emails. They have also suspended phone communication so there's no way you can contact them. It seems like an overall very fishy business practice. I will have to report them as well like the other reviewers. read more

Only take the clinics if you are a beginner. I signed up as an intermediate and found that they would mix the levels. They'd also have you demonstrate how you would swing the racquet on the base line multiple times on all the strokes... Not saying that I'm a great player, but this is really boring and frustrating for anyone that knows how to hit the ball. There are some instructors that are really good, I just think that the group wasn't well organized enough. An intermediate player shouldn't be paired up with a beginner for match play nor should I be warming up with a beginner... I was paying for lessons not paying to hit to someone that couldn't return the ball. read more

I have been taking lessons here for 3 summers now. All of the instructors are professional, fun, and motivating. Though I take my winters away from the courts, I have improved every summer through Tennis on the Lake. Each tennis pro has their own approach and the head guy, Pete, really is great about catering to your needs individually. Totally flexible crew that really cares about their students. Last weekend I stopped by their grand opening of the Tennis on the Lake Shop for drinks and appetizers. It's really cool. You can get your racquet restrung, grab something in the little kitchen-ette, and watch a match on the huge TV. From what I have researched, Tennis on the Lake has the best bang for your buck when it comes to tennis.... so they always keep me coming back! read more

Can't tell you how much I have enjoyed classes by Tennis on the Lake. I was a member of Midtown Tennis Club for years and quite frankly they don't treat their tennis playing members very well. Teachers are ancient, dismissive and even rude to the members. Equally, the place has become a daycare center for millennials. Tennis on the Lake treats their customers well, the classes are fun and informative and the other people taking classes are all very nice. If you just want to play tennis outdoors, have fun and learn a little bit, this is the place to be. I'll go back all summer and next summer too. Thanks! read more

The worst customer service I have ever experienced and the instruction is sorely hit or miss. I signed up for group lessons and signed my children (9 and 11) for group lessons and tried to take personal lessons. The group lessons were sub par and very dependent on the instructor. The instructors will go through the lessons but there's not any personal instruction. I found the communication to be sorely lacking except for whoever manages the makeup email. That person is always very on the spot but forget about having any response when emailing the info@tennisonthelake or calling. I had a gift certificate and tried to make personal lessons. I finally got someone on the phone after repeatedly sending emails and leaving voice mails. They assured me I was signed up for 3 classes. I asked them to please send me a confirmation email which never came. I went to the lesson for fear of missing it and no one showed up. I tried emailing and calling again and no answer. I really don't know how they stay in business. It feels very much like a racket. read more

PROS: GREAT instruction, small class size (in my case), various outdoor locations. CONS: * was called day-of my first class to let me know it had been canceled due to not enough ppl siging up. They were able to reschedule me at another location, so no harm, but it was very last minute. * they need some IT. Would be nice to put up a webpage showing whether class is canceled, and to schedule make-up sessions at other locations. Ability to coordinate practice with current students from ALL classes would be most excellent. read more

Just wrapping my fifth consecutive session with Tennis on the Lake and it's been one of the highlights of my summer. Classes start off a bit slow with drills that mainly involve racket placement and limited movement but if you stick with it, it's a ton of fun and really beneficial. Coach Kyle is a champ, and honestly, all of the coaches seem talented and friendly. read more

This company deserves zero stars, but it is not allowed. PRO: Cocky instructors if you like such people CON: 1. This company is jam-packing a court. A good portion of the lesson is spent on running around the court with no ball, another good portion is listening to an instructor ( well no one learns tennis by listening), and another good portion is spent on waiting others in your group lesson to hit the ball. You may get a small portion of the lesson to actually hit the ball. Usually half the time you hit the ball, you are just tapping it like a child, since there is limited space on the court itself. You would be better off tapping balls back and forth on the park grass surface and would learn more. 2. This company claims they rent out space from the park district in my neighborhood where the property taxes are really very very high- probably one of the highest in the entire city. We as the taxpayer have paid for our neighborhood park and the courts; and we continue to pay to maintain them. So my few words to this company : Please leave and stop making profits off my back when I am working 12 hours a day to pay the exorbitant property and other taxes of my city. Please stop taking up my space so I can enjoy the few weekends I can, relaxing in my neighborhood park without you infringing. Please rent a place where you actually pay for the whole infrastructure rather than getting it free on the back of the average working person. read more

Unfortunately, I had a horrible customer service experience with TOL. When I attempted to sign up for class, Taylor (Last Name Unknown) was unhelpful and rude. Then when I had complaints about the quality of the class, he was combative and rude. Save your money and go somewhere they don't act like jerks. read more

I haven't played tennis regularly since 8th grade, but Tennis on the Lake has renewed my interest. I'm starting my second session with TOL, and I'm enjoying it greatly. The instructors are friendly, and mix up drills to keep things interesting. They're also pretty good at evaluating your skill level. I Initially signed up for an Advanced Beginner class because I didn't know how I'd play for not playing for so long, but after a week they suggested that I join the Intermediate class which made playing more enjoyable. As long as I'm living in the city, I'll be playing tennis with TOL! read more

I started taking lessons with Tennis on the Lake in September, and have been very happy with the instructors and the improvements to my game. I have been playing since high school, but hadn't had a lesson in 10 years. Matt was a great instructor, and gave me great suggestions to correct my form. In the past, I have played in matches with Chicago Sport & Social, but found they didn't match people up very well based on skill level, and I didn't like driving all over the city with the USTA Flex Leagues. The lessons I took with Tennis on the Lake were located in Waveland Park, which is super convenient to my house. The girl in the office is very flexible and re-scheduled all 6 classes I had to miss due to business travel and vacations. I've had a great experience with lessons with TOTL and will definitely look into taking them next year. Only drawback is they don't have an indoor option during the winter -- I'm going to miss my fun workouts! read more

When I decided I wanted to start playing tennis, back in the summer of 2009, I googled places that had lessons outdoors, preferably, or places either in downtown or close to the Waveland Courts. TOL sounded like a great option and the prices were great. Minus a few rain-outs, everything I learned during the 2009 summer was extended well into future lessons with other companies, specifically a company at McClurg Court which isn't as good as TOL. I started back at TOL for 2011 because the location is better for summer, rather than being indoors at McClurg Court which is best for the winter. I'm hoping TOL can get something started at McClurg because I'd much rather do winter lessons with Pete and his team of instructors, instead of the company that is currently running lessons at this facility. Even though there are some beginner steps I don't think I need to re-learn, I don't have a problem being an Advanced Beginner amongst 6 attendees in the Beginner's class because I know that Pete and his instructors will place me in a position where I can be challenged more than the Beginner attendees. This is incredibly helpful because I want to get better at my game so I can use it to my advantage in my personal life, with regular cardio exercise on the court. The 2011 spring season has been pretty horrible and out of 8 classes (2 times/week for 4 weeks), I have 3 rain-outs I need to make-up and the office said they don't really expire as long as there's space for an additional player. read more