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Learn how local tennis clubs are using strong design, branding, and messaging to improve their websites and attract new members.
Tennis clubs face unique challenges when it comes to their websites. Parents are evaluating programs for their children, adults are looking for leagues and lessons, and serious players want to understand coaching quality and facilities. Your website needs to serve all these audiences while establishing credibility in a competitive market.
After reviewing several tennis club websites, I've found that the most successful ones leverage social proof effectively, use clean design systems, and clearly communicate what makes them different from competitors. The struggling sites often use generic imagery, confusing calls to action, and fail to capitalize on their unique selling points. We’re going to look at three local tennis clubs - JTCC, House of Tennis, and Rock Creek Park Tennis Center - to dig into these strengths and weaknesses.
JTCC understands the power of social proof and uses it masterfully throughout their site.
Francis Tiafoe, who at one point was ranked #10 in the world, was raised at JTCC where his father worked as head of maintenance. They prominently feature him in the header section, immediately establishing their credibility with serious tennis families.
Beyond celebrity endorsements, they include compelling statistics that show real, quantifiable impact.
These include the thousands of youth they've served, scholarships earned, and tennis titles won. This speaks directly to parents wondering if their investment will pay off.
Their testimonial section is particularly engaging and well-crafted. Rather than generic praise, the testimonials feel authentic and specific to the JTCC experience. This kind of social proof is invaluable for tennis clubs where parents are making significant financial commitments for their children's development.
JTCC does a great job with their color palette. Blue and green are their primary and secondary brand colors and are both used throughout the site creating a cohesive visual experience.
This color combination is particularly appropriate for a tennis club, as blue and green are popular for tennis courts, especially in major tournaments like the US Open. The combination provides visual appeal that resonates with tennis audiences.
Blue is used effectively as a hover effect, adding subtle interactivity without overwhelming the design.
The result is very clean and professional. Their contact section is very clear, and it's really the effective use of those two colors to separate their contact information from the contact form.
This approach proves you don't need a rainbow of colors to create visual interest. Strategic use of one or two brand colors against white creates a sophisticated appearance that anyone can appreciate.
House of Tennis nails their hook with a unique background photo perspective that immediately catches attention and the motivating phrase “Excel Your Game.”
Their descriptive paragraph, while somewhat generic, encourages visitors to keep reading and learn more about their programs.
However, the calls to action further down the page could benefit from a bit more clarity. One section promotes summer camp registration with the heading “Accepting Summer Camp Registration Now,” but the accompanying button reads “Subscribe Now.”
Since most people associate subscribing with newsletters, it’s not immediately clear how that ties into registering for a camp. This disconnect creates unnecessary friction for parents trying to sign up their children. A clearer call to action would help streamline the experience and reduce any potential confusion.
House of Tennis falls into a common trap with their icon choices. The icons look very generic and aren’t tailored to the tennis theme which is a missed opportunity to reinforce it’s unique identity.
For example, they use a bar chart to represent "stroke development," bare feet for "footwork," and puzzle pieces for “problem solving.” These loosely connect to tennis concepts, which can make the design feel like an afterthought or underdeveloped.
They would have been better served using real photos from their tennis club that reinforce the personal, authentic aspect of their program. If they wanted to maintain the icon aesthetic, the icons on their about page are much better and sports-specific.
Generic icon sets are tempting because they're easy, but they make your site look like every other business. Tennis clubs should use imagery that reinforces their expertise and connection to the sport.
Rock Creek Park Tennis Center understands their unique advantage and leads with it. They're associated with the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Stadium, home of the Citi Open, an ATP Tour Event. This professional connection immediately sets them apart from typical tennis clubs.
They lead with the fact that their facility offers 15 hard courts, 10 clay courts, and 5 indoor courts heated during winter, enabling year-round tennis. It’s also laid out clearly that they offer leagues, clinics, and lessons including in Pickleball.
By leading with what makes them special rather than generic tennis club messaging, they attract players who value professional-level facilities and training environments.
Rock Creek Tennis Center demonstrates that simple design executed consistently can be highly effective. Their cards for lessons, leagues, and courts are super clean, with hover effects that reveal action buttons. This subtle interactivity feels modern without being distracting.
Sections for pickleball, adult clinics, and memberships all maintain consistent styling and similar color palettes. Their triangle motif appears consistently throughout, including on buttons, creating visual cohesion that feels intentional rather than accidental.
The design is simple, but the details add up to create a professional, trustworthy impression. Parents and players can focus on the information they need without being distracted by busy layouts or inconsistent styling.
To make your tennis program stand out, be sure to include evidence that it delivers results, whether that’s professional player connections, alumni achievements, or compelling statistics about student success.
Be specific about what makes you different from other tennis clubs. Whether it's professional facility connections, unique coaching methods, or comprehensive year-round programs, lead with your distinctive advantages. Lastly, even a simple layout can be effective if care is given to color choices, icons, and other elements that can reinforce your brand.
If you're a business owner looking to refine your website this year, please fill out the contact form and mention that you'd like a website review in the project description. I'll personally evaluate your site and provide a consultation with tailored feedback and a plan of action.
