My Beach Tennis Hunt Starts
Needed somewhere new to play Nox beach tennis. My usual spot got overrun by a volleyball tournament. Was kinda bummed, you know? Grabbed my Nox racket, the super grippy one I like for sand, and just started driving. Figured I’d check a few beaches nearby.
First stop: Crescent Cove. Looked nice online, right? Got there, sand felt way too soft and deep. Like, walking was hard, forget running for the ball. Plus, the high tide line was eating up like half the beach. Nope. Packed up quick. Feels bad wasting gas.
The Search Gets Real
Drove south to Pine Shores Beach. Bigger sign near the entrance claimed “Tournaments Welcome!” Hope! Parked, lugged my gear down… total disappointment. Narrow strip of sand, right? Tourists everywhere with umbrellas and towels. Barely enough room for two people to stand side-by-side without hitting someone’s cooler. Saw another dude with tennis gear looking just as lost. We shrugged at each other. Dead end.
Started thinking smaller. That local beach down the next road? Sandy Hook Beach. Parking’s kinda annoying, but whatever. Walked down the path… sand felt way better under my feet – packed, kinda damp. Perfect! Had enough open space near the rocks, clear high tide line further out. Score! Saw another pair wrapping up a game right where I wanted to set up. Talked to them – super friendly, said they play here most weekends. Solid info.
Why Sandy Hook worked:
- Got lucky with the tide timing – coming in later afternoon, not shrinking the court.
- The sand isn’t loose powder – it’s firm enough to move fast. Huge for those quick volleys.
- Plenty of open room, especially near the rocks. Feels kinda private too.
- Met some other players – so clutch for finding partners!
Final Thoughts & The Win
Got a solid hour hitting balls. Sun going down, felt awesome. Didn’t even need my extra towels cause the sand wasn’t soaking wet. Finding a good spot is such a hassle sometimes. Gotta ignore the pretty pictures online, trust me. Focus on:
- Feel the dang sand – is it packed? Soggy? Rocky? Walk on it first.
- Tide charts matter way more than I thought! Low tide equals usable beach.
- Look past the crowds – scope the quieter corners.
- Talk to other players if you see ’em! Best tip I got all day.
Sandy Hook’s my new spot. Forgot my extra socks, but totally worth it.