THE COURT AND HOW TO PLAY
The court
The court is a cross between a squash court and a lawn tennis court, with typical dimensions of 90 foot overall length and 30 foot breadth. The playing area has four walls, three of which are joined to a sloping roof called the penthouse.
The court is divided by the net into two halves: the service end, where the service always takes place, and the receiving, or hazard end. Spectators usually view the game from the dedans or the side galleries.
Serving
The player who is serving puts the ball into play by hitting it onto the penthouse roof. It has to bounce at least once on the hazard side of the service penthouse before landing within the red area of the receiving court.
The Rally and Winning Shots
The ball remains live and in play until one or other of the players makes an error (for example, hits the ball into the net or out of the court) or plays a winning shot.
A winning shot is one that goes into the dedans, the winning gallery or the grille, or onto the winning area of the floor at the hazard end on the second bounce.
Chases
If the ball bounces twice anywhere else on the court before the receiving player can hit it, the point is not conceded. Instead a chase is set, or laid, according to the line on the floor nearest to the second bounce. A chase can also be laid by hitting the ball into the side galleries at either end.
Players can only change ends when there are two chases, or one chase in the case of game point. The new receiver then has to better the chase, or chases, in order to win the point.
Example: if the chase is 5 yards, the player must keep the ball in play to a point better than the 5 yard line in order to win the point. If the second bounce of the ball falls short of the 5 yard line, the server does not have to play it and wins the point.
Scoring
Scoring is similar to lawn tennis, with a few important differences:
• The score of the player who won the previous point is always called first.
• Deuce is not played if the game is being played on handicap, if it is 40-all, it is game point.
• Unlike lawn tennis, play is continuous, apart from changing ends between chases.
Key terms
Penthouse -The sloping roof joined to three of the four walls of the court.
Service end - The half of the court from which the service always takes place.
Hazard end - The receiving half of the court.
Dedans - The spectator area at the service end. Hitting the ball into it is a winning shot.
Winning gallery - A gallery at the hazard end. Hitting the ball into it is a winning shot.
Grille - An opening at the hazard end. Hitting the ball into it is a winning shot.
Side galleries - Openings along the side of the court. Hitting the ball into one lays a chase.
Chase - Laid when the ball bounces twice (other than in a winning area) or enters a side gallery; the point is decided later when players change ends.
Getting Started
All this may sound very complicated, but you will be guided by the club Professionals, Zak Eadle and Sammy Legg, when you first start playing – and it will all come together and make sense as you get into it.
Membership of Bristol Real Tennis Club is open to all, and the club welcomes new members of any age and standard. To arrange a taster session or find out more, contact the club at email@bristolrealtennisclub.org.uk or 0117 973 3444.
The above information on the court and how to play can be downloaded on the following link