The Game:

Real tennis is the original raquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis descended. The game dates back to the 14th century and is currently enjoying a burst of popularity. New courts are being built, and there are an ever increasing number of new players, including a substantial number of converts from rackets, lawn tennis and squash.

Played indoors on courts that are reminiscent in some ways of monastery cloisters, the game encompasses familiar features of lawn tennis and squash, as well as an intellectual challenge unknown in any other racquet sport. As in lawn tennis, the ball has to be played across a net, and as in squash it can be returned directly or played off the walls. Scoring follows the "15, 30, 40, Game" pattern later adopted by lawn tennis.

Among the unique features of Real Tennis are various "target areas" in the court (which win you a point if you hit them), and the chance, from time to time, to replay a point if you fail to return the ball. Though this aspect of the game may seem a little complicated at first, new players quickly get the idea, and find it adds immensely to their enjoyment of the game - as well as ensuring that speed, strength and fitness won't always triumph over guile and strategy!

More information can be found about the game on The Tennis & Rackets Association's web site.