How to play beach tennis
A mix of tennis, badminton and beach volleyball. Mostly doubles, two against two, and the ball is never allowed to bounce.
The game
Two players a side, on a 16 by 8 metre sand court, over a net 1.70 metres high.
The ball has to be returned out of the air. If it lands, the point is over, which is why nobody stands still for long.
Racquets are solid, with no strings. Because the ball never bounces, the swing is short and compact, and most of the game happens close to the net.
There's no bounce to wait for and no moment to reset, so points move fast. Diving is an ordinary part of a rally.
It's quick to pick up, and good to watch.
Coming from another racquet sport
Tennis, padel, pickleball, badminton or squash players: your eye for the ball and your hands come with you. The big change is no bounce, so swings get shorter and the game moves forward.
Scoring
- Points are counted like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game.
- There is no advantage. At deuce, the next point wins the game.
- You get one serve, not two, and it can be hit underarm or overarm.
- Sets run to six games. At social sessions the scoring is often looser than that, and nobody will mind if you lose count.
What to bring
- Water, a hat, sunscreen and something you can move in.
- Racquets provided if you need one.
Trying it
Intro to Beach Tennis is free, runs at West Beach in St Kilda, and assumes you have never held a beach tennis racquet.
Most people who come have never played, and a good number arrive on their own.