Where is it played?: Platform tennis (also called 'paddle') is played mostly in North America, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest of the US. It has traditionally been played mostly at country clubs, but public courts can now be found outside that setting.
Who can excel at it?: Anyone with good hand-eye coordination, and doubles tennis skills. Most regular tennis players should be able to excel at it once they master playing the ball off the screen.
How fast does the ball move?: Using the hard paddle and a bouncy ball, ball speeds can approach those of regular tennis. And since the court is much smaller than a regular tennis court (about one quarter its size), the play is very fast.
How big is the court?: A platform tennis court is a rectangle 60 feet by 30 feet, enclosed by a 12 foot high wire mesh screen. The playing surface is a deck, often wooden, and usually painted with a paint that has grit mixed into it, for good traction. The deck has a 44 foot by 20 foot tennis court layout on it, which defines the playing area (with baseline, service boxes, alleys, etc.).
Is it an Olympic sport?: Platform tennis is not an Olympic sport. It was invented in the late 1920's and codified in 1934.
Who are some all-time great players?: The platform tennis Hall of Fame records numerous doubles pairs, as well as some singles champions, worthy of being called "greats" of the sport.
How long does it take to learn?: If you play regular tennis, you can quickly learn the rules of platform tennis, as they are quite similar. Learning the subtleties of playing the ball off the screen, and learning the tactics and strategies that work on the platform tennis court, will take months to years.
How easy is it to start?: Platform tennis is easy to start. You need some warm sweatclothes, a paddle and ball, and some good tennis shoes. A good way to start would be to take an introductory lesson from a professional.
How much does it cost to begin?: If you take an introductory lesson, you won't need to purchase a racquet (paddle), but the lesson may cost $50 for an hour.
How many players and courts are there?: The American Platform Tennis Association estimates about 4,000 courts in the United States, and probably over 100,000 players.
