Just when you thought you knew about every kind of tennis game, we are here to tell you there is one more modified tennis game. Touch Tennis is the most marvellous game, fun and energising, fast paced and fantastic for the whole family. Here’s everything you needed to know about Touch Tennis.
It’s a recreational sport but one that is growing in popularity, especially since it is often featured on television sports channels and since there is a World Touch Tennis tour.
Touch Tennis is probably one of the best alternatives to beach tennis or table tennis, especially as it is a game that is appealing to beginner or new players, to a lot of players at the same times and to anyone who just wants to have a ball!
Table of Content
What is the History of Touch Tennis?
Touch tennis is a relatively new sport, founded in 2002 by GOAT, Rashid Ahmad. GOAT, you may be asking?
Rashid has long been considered the touch tennis master, the Greatest Of All Time, with 20 Grand Slams to his name and 22 Master Series Titles.
He’s an interesting man, pretty humble, one who smiles a lot when asked about how he came up with the Touch Tennis idea. He says it was purely by accident that he came up with the game but is still one that he is supremely proud of, especially the way it has grown.
Rashid loved tennis. He still does. He would spend times with his friends playing tennis on the nearby courts, but also playing modified tennis games with his daughter in their back garden.
She was young, tennis itself was too much for her, and they had more fun in their garden on a makeshift and smaller court, with an old upside down table as a net, easy-to-hold rackets and a foam tennis ball.
Rashid’s friends, who would come over, watched the two of them play this ‘made-up’ game, and soon, they were joining in. Before long, nobody was walking to the tennis courts, rather they were all playing this new form of tennis, touch tennis, in Rashid’s garden.
Also Read:
What is the appeal of Touch Tennis?
The appeal of touch tennis is the fun factor and the rules which are more lenient and pretty different to tennis itself. All shots are allowed and players can move from one side of the court to the other.
It’s just like tennis, not as strict when it comes to serving and to leet shots and all style shots are allowed You can hit the ball up, down, side ways or any way you choose. As long as the ball bounces once, or not at all, and stays inside the court, the game continues.
It’s loads of fun and ideal for a holiday sport, after-school sport, weekend fun, picnics and more.
And of course, if you want to take touch tennis seriously, you can join clubs, play with like-minded touch tennis players and follow the relatively new touch tennis circuit.
What is needed for Touch Tennis?
You only need to know how to hold a racket and how to run.
Touch tennis is like tennis but it’s on the grass and it’s on a smaller court with less strict rules.
You need to enjoy exercise and all touch tennis players say the same thing – it is a brilliant form of exercise and one that helps you get fit and stay in shape the more you play.
Touch Tennis Equipment?
- A touch tennis court, 12 x 6 meters, easy to improvise in the garden.
- A touch tennis net, easy to improvise.
- 21 inch touch tennis rackets.
- A foam touch tennis ball.
The beauty of the touch tennis equipment is that touch tennis sets can be bought online, they are inexpensive, they are super light and easily portable, and the game can be carried anywhere where you want to have fun – the beach, the park, your garden, to your school and even, to the tennis courts.
The specifications of the Touch Tennis equipment
- The singles court is 12 meters x 5 meters.
- The doubles court is 12 meters x 6 meters.
- The height of the net must be between 80 cms and 91.5 cms.
- Touch tennis rackets must be between 20.8 inches and 21.5 inches.
- Head size of a racket must be no bigger than 107 square inches.
- The touch tennis ball is made of foam.
- The touch tennis ball is 8 cms in diameter.
It is a good idea to note that in Touch Tennis tournaments the net is regulated at 85 cms.
What are the Touch Tennis Rules?
Given that touch tennis was a pretty random game to start off with, Rashid made up the rules as he went along. Today the rules, when playing competitively, are set in stone, but if you are playing for fun you can absolutely make your own rules up as you go along.
You basically have to follow tennis rules, but with one serve only, let balls count and there are no advantages.
Here are the basic rules for you:
- The racket is spun to see who serves first and who receives.
- The server only has one serve, unlike tennis where there are two.
- The serve is done to the receiver, diagonally, and must land in the service box.
- If the serve clips the net, the ball is in play.
- The server can serve overhand or underhand.
- The receiver cannot volley the ball on the first return.
- Once the ball is in play, it is open house!
- Rallies go on for as long as they can, until one player makes a mistake.
Also Read:
Touch Tennis Scoring
Touch tennis scored just like tennis. 15/0, 30/0, 40/0, game or deuce. There is no advantage. If a game goes to deuce, the winner of that point wins the game. It is like a sudden death.
Sets are short – the winner of the set is the player to reach 4 games first. If the game goes to 4 all, a tiebreak is served up to 5 points. The best of 3 sets are played.
We would suggest you watch the Touch Tennis video right here. Touch tennis is great for tennis players or non-tennis players.
It’s fun for the family, for you and your friends and in fact for anyone who has a little garden space.
