Paddle Tennis - A Winter Sport

By: Greg Pierce 

Paddle tennis, also known as platform tennis started in the 1920s. Two friends were looking for a way to practice their knacks in tennis during the winter season. They came upon a concept to construct an unusual court designed for winter. The dimension of the court was 30 ft by 60 ft, about a quarter of a tennis court, fenced by screens 12 ft in height. Aside from keeping the balls from straying off the court, the purpose of the screen was to let the players bounce off the balls from them as in racquetball or squash. 

Little did the creators know that the sport would become popular enough to be played by men and women of different expertise & age levels. Or that it would be enjoyed all over the United States & Canada, not to mention different countries worldwide.

Paddle tennis is very easy to play. Anybody can just pick up a paddle and learn while having fun. Its not the same as tennis where you need speed and raw power to win. In paddle tennis, you need to have the patience & strategy of a chess player. It is because of this that it can be an addicting game. 

The capability to play off the screens makes the game more interesting. Part of its appeal is to be able to turn the tables on a male-against-female match. A woman cannot be bested by a man's raw power alone if she can play her cards right. Because of the screens, it is difficult to predict an opponent's move. But this is part of the strategy.

Presently, the courts are constructed of aluminum with heating underneath so that the falling snow cannot accumulate because it melts upon landing on the surface. There are also warming huts nearby complete with fireplaces & contemporary amenities. The court is also equipped with lights for playing at night. From September to April, the season for this sport is longer than summer games. 

This sport compliments your skills in tennis such as overheads & volleying. Thus, you don't have to stop playing tennis altogether. The good thing about this sport is that women can play against men in tournaments. Unlike in tennis wherein the sexes have to be segregated because a man's raw power is usually no match against a woman's.

Another bright idea about this sport is that parks that are never used during winter can be equipped with courts to make them useful.

Are you enthusiastic about learning how to play paddle tennis? Learn all about it in our site. We have links for everything you need including paddle tennis rackets.

Article Source: Paddle Tennis - A Winter Sport