A Profile of Court Tennis

Where is it played?: Court tennis is played primarily in the US, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. In France it is called jeu de paume and in Australia it is known as real tennis.

Who can excel at it?: Court tennis is a great sport for all body types. Height is not a tremendous advantage. The best players are strong in the core of their body, and in their legs and arms.

How fast does the ball move?: Since the racquet is heavy and tightly strung, and several shots are hit with as much pace as possible, the ball can come off the racquet very quickly, similar to a hard serve in regular tennis (over 120 miles per hour).

How big is the court?: The playable floor space is about a 96 by 32 foot rectangle, with a net in the middle bisecting the 96 foot-long space. The penthouse roof around three sides of the court defines a larger total playable area (roof and floor) of 110 feet by 39 feet. A court tennis court is a complex, asymmetric room, and exact dimensions do vary from court to court.

Is it an Olympic sport?: Court tennis was an Olympic sport in 1908. It is no longer an Olympic sport.

Who are some all-time great players?: Some all-time great male world champions include Clerge (France, 1740’s), Jay Gould (US, 1914), Pierre Etchebaster (France, 1928-1952), Chris Ronaldson (England, 1981-1985), Wayne Davies (Australia, 1987-1993), Rob Fahey (Australia, 1994-2006). Current great women players include Charlotte Cornwallis and Penny Lumley, both of England.

How long does it take to learn?: Learning court tennis can take a lifetime because of its asymmetry, spins, and complex rules. You can learn the rules and all the major shots in about six months.

How easy is it to start?: It is easy to start, but sometimes hard to make consistent contact because the balls can bounce irregularly, and the racquet head is quite small. You need court shoes, white tennis clothes, access to a court, a court tennis racquet, and a set of handmade balls to start hitting. To actually play, you also need a partner; ideally, one who has an understanding of the rules.

How much does it cost to begin?: You can get on court on a trial basis at many of the US courts for free, or for a nominal fee.

How many players and courts are there? : There are several thousand court tennis players worldwide, and roughly one thousand in the US. There are nine active court tennis locations and ten total courts in the US. Worldwide, there are fewer than 50 courts.