Drilling Tennis & Golf

Well, I was a fan.
Drilling closed at the end of 2011 because they lost their lease (all the businesses in that building did). Drilling merged their operations with TennisTopia in Bethesda/​Rockville.
Shoot! I loved shopping in Drilling because the pros always steered me towards good equipment based on my description of my hitting style and within my price range (I’m on a student’s budget). I’ve also shopped in the Bethesda store. Very different feel… and I don’t think I’ll get the same personal attention there.

I heard the store is closing. Bummer… it’s not like there are a lot of tennis shops around.

I initially was disappointed when going in for a potential golf club repair (shortening a shaft), learning that the store doesn’t have a swingweight scale, and getting a condescending lecture trying to justify it. But I received an apologetic email afterward, which is appreciated. Just be aware that some of their repair work is done offsite.

I can’t really speak to the tennis side of things, but the golf shop is awesome, especially for being in downtown Washington, DC. Let’s just be honest, we aren’t really in golf mecca here, so us golfers must take what we can get and wait our time until we can hopefully leave DC for a better life. With that said, this place is awesome!!! The folks who run it are very knowledgeable and will match internet prices but let you try out the clubs. They are very generous about letting you try out a club before purchasing it, which is a big advantage from buying online.
I sometimes even go here for lessons, although I prefer an outdoor lesson for obvious reasons. Still, the technology is pretty decent down below and also works for club fitting.

After playing tennis with a crappy Target racket for a few years, I decided it was time to upgrade, and it just happened that Drilling Tennis and Golf had a BuyWithMe deal. My husband and I went to the store together, and found the manager to be incredibly helpful. He listened to our needs and showed us several rackets, and even gave us a discount on one my husband liked to get it down to our price range, even though he knew we were redeeming a certificate. The people at this store really do care about helping you improve your game, and I love my new racket. It’s way lighter than my old one, and I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my game. Plus, I needed some tape on the handle since it was a bit small for my hand, and they let me pick the color, so now I can practice my backhand with a high-​quality racket that has a cute pink girly handle. A win all around!

The great thing about this store is that the employees are VERY knowledgeable– they will give you personal attention and service, and they know their material. The downer is that the services/​purchases can be a bit pricey. After paying $ 40 to have my racquet re-​strung and re-​gripped, I sat in disbelief, wondering if the times had slipped through my fingertips…

I have walked by this store a couple times and it pops up in every google search I do for golf or tennis in DC but until last week I have never stopped in despite being an avid golfer and tennis player. I went into to do some Christmas shopping and walked out a loyal customer. They have a knowledgeable staff and top-​notch equipment far superior to what you can find at the big box sports stores; this is truly a private country club’s pro-​shop in the middle of the city with great prices. They have a customer for life in me.

My wife and I had an excellent experience with them. Knowledgeable and friendly staff helped guide us through racket selection (we hadn’t bought in many years). Their check-​out program let us try out the suggestions, with the fee later credited to the racket purchase.
As best we could tell, the prices seemed competitive.

Interesting shop with a conveyor belt like a dry cleaner for hanging tennis bags, rackets etc. Good use of space for small shop. The staff seemed very knowledgeable in the tennis rackets especially if you are looking for something to demo. They know everything so specific by brand, size, weight etc. The demo does cost $$ but the fee would be credited towards the purchase of a new racket. They also string your rackets there for you. They are far more organized than the Tennis factory.

Overpriced. Granted, they’re knowledgeable and have a good selection with a few true players’ frames, but for what I paid to have a couple of sticks strung up here I can buy my own stringer and do it at home. I’ll stick to Holabird — thanks.

Tons of rackets, a great demo program (you can hit in the shop and take out demos for a fee which goes towards purchase) and a decent selection of grips and accessories. During the week there are some very knowledgeable and friendly people in there. Want to talk strings? I’ve never been there and NOT seen the stringer in there. Prices are a bit stiff, and it would be great if they stayed open maybe an hour longer on weeknights, but otherwise this is a nice little tennis shop.
I hear they have stuff for older folks downstairs *smirk* but iono much about that.

One stop shopping for all things golf and tennis related at this husband and wife owned shop that’s been around since the 70’s.
This is where I go to get my racket restrung (price ranges from $ 25 to $ 42 depending on what kind of string) and re-​gripped (which ranges from $ 2 to $ 12 depending on whether you need overgrip or a complete re-​grip). Besides rackets ranging from Junior to extra large grips (used and discontinued rackets too), they also carry all the needed gear: visors, clothing, shoes and tennis bags. And while they are only mildly similar to tennis, Drilling also carries equipment for badminton, ping pong, racquetball and squash.
Golf gear can be found here too and there is LOTS of it. This includes the normal: golf shoes, clubs (kids and womens also), bags, clothing, tees, divet replacers, balls, gloves — you name it. They even have one of those machines that can analyze your swing.