ABOUT REAL TENNIS
Real Tennis is the king of all racket sports, a game where subtlety and thought are more prized than power and fitness. It is played in an asymmetrical court which contains many unusual features, sloping roofs, openings (galleries) in the walls and a main wall which has a kink in it (tambour) so the ball on hitting the sloping face moves across the court instead of continuing down the line of the main wall. It has the classic elements of warfare where a failed attack is punished by a counter-attack.
The game is played with rackets made of wood, of reasonable dimensions and with hand-made balls re-covered every week with new cloth.
Some hand--eye coordination and physical mobility is essential but it does not require the sort of fitness and agility required by squash in order to enjoy the game. The game can be enjoyed at many skill levels and a system of handicapping has been devised in order to make games competitive between players of different ability. Age is no barrier and many octogenarians play the game, and to a good standard.
Court image from: http://www.irtpa.com/court_large.htm
