← Back to Home

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you want to know about playing on Rally House's indoor tennis simulator.

What is an indoor tennis simulator?

Rally House's simulator lets you hit real balls with a racquet in hand inside a climate-controlled bay, against a projected court that tracks every shot — speed, spin, and placement — in real time. It's not a video game; it's real tennis, with real feedback, indoors.

What's the benefit over booking an outdoor or club court?

NYC has roughly 650 public courts for 8.4 million people, so court time is scarce and weather-dependent. A simulator bay is available year-round, rain or shine, with no permit, no waiting list, and no rained-out reservations. You book a time, you play.

Do I need a partner to play?

No. That's one of the biggest advantages — you can get a full practice session in solo, on your own schedule, without needing to coordinate a hitting partner. It's also great for private lessons, since a coach can work with you one-on-one in a controlled environment.

What kind of feedback does the simulator give me?

Every shot is tracked for speed, spin, and placement, so you get instant, objective feedback on what you're actually doing — not just a guess. That makes it easier to see patterns in your game and work on specific weaknesses rep after rep.

Is it good for beginners, or only advanced players?

Both. Beginners benefit from a low-pressure, repeatable environment to groove basic strokes and footwork without the intimidation of a match. Advanced players use it for focused reps — serve placement, return patterns — that are hard to isolate on a live court.

Why would I want to use a tennis simulator over playing traditional tennis?

Tennis simulators allow you to practice more efficiently by hitting up to 1,500 balls in an hour versus ~300 balls in a typical rally. You can adjust the speed, spin, height, and depth of every shot, allowing you to practice the shot you need at speeds of up to 130mph. There is minimal ball pickup as well, since every shot that hits the screen is automatically fed back through the ball machine, reducing down time. And there's no fear or pressure about hitting balls, since you have your own private bay with netting all around the court.

Will there be lessons or classes available?

Yes — alongside open pay-per-session bay time, we offer adult cardio classes, kids' classes, and private and semi-private lessons, all taught by certified USTA pros. See our classes page for pricing and early registration.

Can children use the simulator?

Yes! This machine works for all types of balls (green-dot, orange, and red balls) and it can feed the ball at a speed and height that works best for that individual child. It also features a hand feeding mode so the child can still use all the capabilities of the simulator if hand feeding the ball to them is necessary. The simulator also features fun and interactive games designed to keep their attention while challenging them to hit moving targets on the screen. None of this can be replicated during a traditional tennis lesson on a tennis court.

How do I get to Rally House from Manhattan?

We're about 20 minutes from Bryant Park by subway or car. By subway, take the 7 train to Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av and walk over the Pulaski Bridge (about 10 minutes), or take the G to Greenpoint Av (about a 10-minute walk). NYC Ferry also runs from East 34th St and Wall St/Pier 11 to the Greenpoint landing.

Is there parking?

Yes. Rally House offers free indoor parking for cars and bikes. We're close to the Pulaski Bridge and the BQE, and an easy ride from Williamsburg and Long Island City.

Do you offer racquet stringing?

Yes. We'll string racquets on-site at Rally House, so you can drop yours off when you play. See our stringing page to request it before we open.

What do I need to bring?

Just bring your shoes. We provide demo racquets, the balls, and all the simulator technology. You're welcome to bring your own racquet too.

Have a question we didn't cover? Email us or join the waitlist on our homepage.

Opening Early January

Rally House is coming to Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Join the waitlist and get a free half-hour session when we open.

Coming soon!

Booking isn't open yet. Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment it is.

Join the Waitlist