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Discover tennis

Is the racket calling to you? Does the tennis court seem more like home than ever? It's time.Time to try tennis.

The UK taking inspiration from France? Surely not. The history of tennis would suggest otherwise, however, long before the game went worldwide. We’ll tell you how the surface of the court influences how the game is played, whether indoors or out, though there’s much more to the game than the style of play. Tennis is a sport that develops skill, stamina and mental strength, three key attributes that help you keep the ball inside the line. So, get your rackets at the ready.

What is tennis?

A sport that originated in France before being reworked by the British, tennis is a descendant of the French jeu de paume and came into being in 1869 in the English town of Leamington Spa, where a sportsman, Harry Gem, and his friends founded a lawn tennis club.And it was all made possible by rubber. What? Yes, before the invention of vulcanised rubber, balls were made of cork and cloth didn’t bounce very high on grass courts, which was pretty tiresome for budding players.

And what exactly does the word “tennis” mean anyway?It finds its origin in jeu de paume, a game in which, in the server shouts the word “tenez”, meaning “hold”, “receive”, or “take” and which was later Anglicised to become “tennis”, though who knows why. The expansion of the game.

The first Wimbledon Championships were held in 1877, with the final being played in front of a crowd of only 200 people.France’s first tennis club was founded in the town of Dinard the following year, with Australia, Ireland and the USA’s first clubs being set up at around the same time.

It is now the second most-played sport in France, with over a million registered players. It’s a game for young and old alike and can be played in singles and doubles formats.

Surfaces and styles of play:

  ➡️  Clay: a slow surface that absorbs the impact of the ball. Made from limestone and crushed brick, clay courts cause the ball to bounce higher and place higher technical demands on players.
➡️ Hard: tough on the joints, hard courts play faster than clay but slower than grass.
➡️  Grass (natural or artificial): a fast surface on which the ball bounces low, it encourages attacking play.

💡 Grass is mown twice a week, to a length of between 6 mm and 8 mm. Fascinating stuff, right?

The rules of tennis

A singles tennis court measures 23.77 m long and 8.23 m wide, while a doubles court is the same length but 10.97 m wide.Running across the very middle of the court is a net standing exactly 91.4 cm.high. A coin toss is held at the start of a match, with the winner choosing whether to serve or receive and from which end of the court. The players stand on either side of the net. The server serves and their opponent attempts to return the ball.The aim is to force your opponent into an error and avoiding hitting the ball into the net, which is easier said than done. Sets are won by the first player(s) to reach six games with a margin of at least two games over their opponent(s).In best-of-three matches, players need to win two sets to win the match and three sets in best-of-five.

The benefits of tennis

A sport of skill and stamina, tennis is also a mental challenge. The physical rigours of a tennis match allow you to burn around 600 calories an hour and also develop your muscles, coordination and concentration. Then there are the benefits for your heart, which is put to the test in supporting your footwork and movement around the court, thus enhancing your cardiovascular performance. Tennis requires both self-control and physical conditioning, which go hand in hand.

Is tennis for you?

So you’ve got a thing for style and precision, you’re mentally strong and you like to give everything you have physically?Sounds like you and tennis might be a match made in heaven. But before you slip a bandana on and head out to the court to show what you can do, just check with your GP that you’re fit enough to do so and don’t have any medical conditions that might prevent you from enjoying your tennis.

The equipment you need to play tennis

You’ll need, at the very least, a racket and the right shoes. Why? because tennis is a sport that involves a lot of repetitive motion and demands a lot of your knees.You need shoes, then, that can offer you the right amount of support and can absorb the impact of your feet on the ground.  

Choosing your tennis racket

Choosing a tennis racket?There are a few things you need to bear in mind.

Weight: your racket should neither be too light nor too heavy and offer a balance between power, manoeuvrability and comfort. It’s all a question of trying to wear your opponent down without taking too much out of yourself.
Head: the head should ideally be medium-sized, between 630 cm² and 645 cm², allowing you to hit the ball hard without sacrificing touch and put your opponent on the back foot.
Frame stiffness: As for the frame, the stiffer it is the more powerful your shots will be and the less control you will have. If you’re just starting out, choose a fairly stiff frame.

Racket stiffness is measured by what is called the Rahmen index, which has nothing to do with Japanese noodles by the way, and ranges between 55 and 75. A stiffness of 67 is perfect for beginners.

Choosing your tennis shoes

Now you have all the information you need to make the right choice of racket, it’s time for you to pick the right tennis shoes. The most important things to take into account in doing so are grip, durability and cushioning.There might only be three of these criteria, but they are vital to protecting your joints and making sure you feel comfortable.

Please feel free to give us your thoughts and tell us about your tennis experiences in the comments section. The ball’s in your court.

Tennis: the rules, the benefits and the kit

SIMON

Author

I share tips from the Artengo team to help you up your game.

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