The Evanston Township High School plays host to badminton players on Mondays and Wednesdays from…read more7pm to 9:30pm for a $5 entrance fee. If you're looking for a fun way to exercise during the winter, check out the open gym at ETHS for a game of badminton. No matter your skill level, there's usually partners to play with you. (I am an absolute beginner with almost zilch tennis experience, though I consider myself fairly athletic and competitive in sporting events. However, hitting a moving object with a stick, e.g. tennis, baseball, etc, is not my strong suit.) The courts are entirely devoted to badminton, so there's no worry about stray basketballs smacking you in the face when you're not looking -- a definite plus compared to other open gyms where anything goes. Some players are very serious, and unless you're a collegiate star or aspiring professional, it's better to stay away from those matches. It's still fun to watch those people play, as you stand in awe of the beauty and ferocity of the game when it is performed by players of skill, agility and power. For those of us plodding along, whiffing at the birdie and smacking shots into the net, the best way to enjoy the evening is to bring a group of four friends together. Take along rackets and a few birdies. A water bottle, too. (Drinking fountains are available in case you forget.) A line often forms for the main courts. Etiquette says you play one game to 21 and then see if another group of 4 is waiting for a turn. Their rackets will be lined up on the bleachers near the entrance to the gym. There's a secondary gym that is smaller and less ventilated -- you can usually find me there, as there's no competition for court space and you can hit your ridiculous-looking shots (or miss) and not make a fool of yourself when running around the gym picking up errant birdies. Occasionally you'll bump into someone who takes the whole affair far too seriously. He or she may even say something dumb or try to bully you and your friends. Happens in every minor sport with a dedicated following. Brush them off as you would any silly trash-talker, stand your ground when necessary. The vast majority of people are kind and welcome newcomers to the sport. After all, we're talking about badminton players, not angry arm wrestlers. You'll have a blast. Transportation tips: Free parking is a breeze across the street from the school. There's also a larger lot that is a few dozen yards farther away.

The review from josh K 2006 is quite accurate except for the part about beginners being openly…read morewelcomed. The players don't mind if beginners are out there for the first hour but you can tell that people would like them to leave so that more serious games can take the courts. The courts are typically really busy, with a waiting line to play (especially during the colder months). For this reason, the regular players would like to only see beginners taking the courts in the first hour or so. Though sometimes you might get taken under a wing and be shown some pointers by one of the advanced players. The mood seems to depend on the night and how busy the courts are. If you are somewhat good, well then you will have a real blast with the Evanston club. Most of the regulars are quite advanced.

Came here with friends on a random day when we were in the mood for badminton and honestly it ended…read moreup being such a fun find. It's a pretty big indoor space with a bunch of courts it doesn't feel cramped even when it gets busy. They also have racquet rentals which were super affordable, so it's easy to just show up and play without overthinking it. The booking system is a little different though. Courts are in 20-minute increments and if another group is waiting, you might have to rotate out once your time is up. At first I thought it was kind of weird, but it actually keeps things moving and gives everyone a chance to play. The place itself is clean and well maintained, and overall the pricing is really reasonable for what you get. Definitely a solid spot if you're trying to do something active with friends without spending too much. I'd come back!

My friends and I were in the mood for some badminton and we randomly found this place /'d decided…read moreto give it a try. This is an indoor badminton space and is open all year round. It's huge, they have easily 8-10 courts. They offer racquet rentals at a reasonable price. The court booking is a bit different here. The courts can be booked for 20 mins. Any new teams that don't have courts can apply for any of the courts. Once your timer is up and a new team had bid for your court, you'd have to leave the court but you are more than welcome to grab any other court that is free. I found this a bit odd but it kinda works Overall, it's well maintained and the prices are reasonable.

For the love of god, please play better music. Nothing worse than unbearable radio pop blaring…read morethroughout the facility. The last thing I want to hear is "Honey, I'm Good" by Andy Grammer blasting my ears off at 96 decibels while I'm trying to workout. Other than that, the Ray is the best.

Facility is super nice. Weekends and summer are basically a children gymnasium…read more Good luck trying to get a swim lane to yourself on the weekends as every lane is used up by parents and kids goofing off.

Great workout spot, doesn't have every machine you would like but still you can get a real freaky…read morepump

Well there is not too much I can write that is much different than some of the other positive…read morereviews so far.. What I can tell you though, is that this location is a no frills, nothing fancy type of gym, with all the equipment and basic amenities a gym should have. It is not your high-end, spa/juice bar/tan salon/supplement store/.. well you get the point! It is however, a great place to get your workout in. It has a great selection of free weights, cardio machines, running and walking tracks, a pool, sauna, racquet ball courts, basketball courts, heavy bag and speed bag, and offers group fitness classes and affordable personal training... Being a university employee has it's perks as the fees are very reasonable and allows us access to the bigger, nicer, east side location on Halsted with our membership. But the rates for non-employee/non-student are still cheaper than big chain gyms nearby and offer more than the small local gyms. So if you are in the Medical District and need a solid gym, this gym is a great option.

Shop owner is knowledgeable and helpful explaining/help choose a racquet for my high school…read moredaughter. He strings the racquets himself for better quality. They have loaner racquets for $20 each and if you buy one the rental fees get credited towards your purchase. They also have a good selection of paddles. They have Master and Xenon, which Dick's won't have, plus the standard Viking and Wilson ones as well. Some decent shoes available for people that don't wear size 13 :). Overall a great shop, worth the extra time to travel to get there

So many shoes, racquets and pickle ball stuff to choose from. Friendly knowledgeable staff. Very…read morehelpful and honestly couldn't be nicer walking us through the right shoe for my son.